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THOMPSON, 
THE DETECTIVE 

A Thrilling Story of Adventure 


^BY 

JUNIUS L. HEMPSTEAD 


“ Man’s inhumanity to man, 

Makes countless thousands mourn.” 




THE:; ’V' 

Sbbcy Press 

PUBLISHERS 
X 14 

FIFTH AVENUE 

Ltondon NEW YORK ^ont»eal 



THE LIBRARY OF 
CONGRESS. 

Two Copies Received 

FEB 23 1Q03 

CLASS CA^xXc, No, 
COPY B. 



Copyright 1902 , 
in the 

United States 
and 

Great Britain, 
by the 

Abbey Press. 



CONTENTS 


T3 

'i 


CHAPTER. PAGE. 

I On the Track i 

II Interviews the Madam 19 

III Meets the Saleslady 37 

IV Harry Locates Madge 67 

V Harry in Prison 77 

VI On Thompson’s Trail 91 

VH Foul Play 106 

VHI Thompson Rescued 118 

IX Shadows the Merchant 133 

X Harry’s Release 154 

XI The Dead Clubman 174 

XH At the Club 187 

XHI At the Asylum 198 

XIV The Rescue 208 

XV The Waxface Man 225 

XVI Thompson Hypnotized 236 

XVH Blanche in Danger 249 

XVHI The Mutilated Ledger 269 

XIX Madge Abducted 297 

XX Madge Is Located • 313 

XXI Tim Very 111 333 

XXI I Retribution 349 


^ I iiAiiTtr-rr 



Thompson, the Detective 


ON THE TRACK. 

The great business house of stood full 

ten stories high ; its marble facade was somber 
with its darkness. The office in the rear of the 
building was cozy because the weather outside 
was raw and winterish. The soft light of two 
argand burners made objects dimly visible in the 
space outside the heavy walnut railing, a cheer- 
ful fire in the grate reflected its blaze from the 
decorated walls, whose pictures were the crown- 
ing glory of American advertising. 

The ticking of the great clock never disturbed 
the concentrated thought of the book-keeper, as 
it travelled from page to page, where long rows 
of shapely figures represented the prosperity, that 
was builded upon a credit basis. The hypothe- 
cated notes became so many little slaves to swell 
the bank’s dividends. A line of discount was the 
lever that oiled the hinges of trade. 

With an impatient slam, Harry Monteet 
closed the large Russian bound ledger, and peered 


2 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

at the gloom outside. The street was deserted; 
not even a policeman was visible. The green and 
red lights of half a dozen saloons struggled 
through the drizzle of a bleak November night. 

“ Bad weather, bad weather,” exclaimed the 
young man. “ I am due at Madam ’s re- 

ception, to-night. I was sensible enough to end 
my invitation to Miss Blanche with a D. V. and 
rain permitting. These fashionable entertain- 
ments make a beastly hole in my salary, hack hire, 
bouquets, bon bons, etc.” 

He covered the bed of glowing embers, turned 
off the gas, and quitted the office. The keen 
blasts that struck him full in the face, caused him 
to button up his great coat to the chin. His 
quick steps echoed along the sidewalks until he 
brought up sharply in front of a brilliantly lighted 
saloon, where the clicking of ivory balls and the 
subdued hum of voices stole upon the stillness of 
the street. 

He quickly closed the doors behind him and 
passed to the rear, where he joined the group at 
the billiard table; the moments passed pleasantly 
because he was playing pool. He glanced at the 
face of his watch, the hour was three in the morn- 
ing. A glass of beer all around, and the friends 
separated. Is it any wonder that he was pale ? The 
broad intelligent forehead was white as marble, 
the colorless cheeks were transparent, the blood- 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


3 


less lips were concealed by a dark mustache. He 
was the last to leave. As he passed out of the 
entrance a touch on his arm detained him, and 
a strangely familiar voice greeted him with : 

“ Sir, pardon the liberty, are you not Harry 
Monteet? ” 

“ Yes, that is my name.” 

“ I knew your father very well ; a more honor- 
able, high toned gentleman never lived. I ascer- 
tained you were in the city, but I could not locate 
you.” 

“ It is late, how can I serve you? ” 

“ You mean it is early. Loan me twenty dol- 
lars. I will return the amount in thirty days. I 
am a stranger in the city, without one cent in 
my pocket.” 

Harry looked intently into his honest, gray 
eyes, and still more honest face. Somehow the 
past lived again in his rugged features, and with 
some hesitation he replied : I do not know you.” 

“ I know you ; I have seen you in the fields 
holding down a plow; you do not look so healthy 
now. A little country air would help you, my 
lad.” 

“ Here goes ; I don’t believe I will ever see 
you again.” He gave one look at the truthful 
gray eyes which were moist with gratitude, and 
continued : “ Pardon me, my rude speech has 


4 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

wounded you. Keep the bill, it will be all right 
if you never return the amount.” 

“ I do not consider this loan as a gift. I will 
certainly keep my promise because I have em- 
ployment that will pay me well in the future , the 
salary will be slow at the start, but it will come. 
It will come ; you have Thompson’s word for 
security.” 

‘‘What is the nature of your business?” 

“ To-morrow, I will be a full fledged detective ; 
if shrewd Scottish wit, backed by Irish tact, wins 
not the day, then am I a fool.” 

“ Meet me, to-morrow night ; I will be here at 
ten. I have many questions to ask you of 

F . I have been absent so long that my 

very name is only a distant memory.” 

“You mistake, Harry; your playmates re- 
member you with affection.” 

“ Four o’clock and not a minute less,” ex- 
claimed the young man ; “ I have to be in the 
office by eight, sharp. Here is my address, give 
me yours. I arrived only to-day; how fortunate 
I am, otherwise I should have slept in charity’s 
bed.” 

At ten o’clock the following night, they were 
seated at one of the tables in the saloon. Their 
sociability increased with every additional glass 
of beer, which washed down the cheese and 
crackers. Mr, Thompson’s voice was keyed to a 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


5 


confidential whisper, as he remarked : “ Do you 

know, Harry, why I chose the hazardous calling 
that will pay me a fortune if I succeed ? If I lose, 
well I am no worse of! than I was before I secured 
the agency.’^ 

While the detective was talking, his keen gray 
eyes were searching for the first link in the chain 
of evidence in his companion’s soul. One by one 
he recalled from the past Harry’s school-day play- 
mates. Critically he noted the pose of the book- 
keeper’s expression, as he dwelt upon the especial 
traits of juvenile character that no restraint of 
later years could change. 

A pleasant warmth crept into the detective’s 
heart. Madge was still the idol in Harry’s heart ; 
years had dimmed the first impulses of love, the 
memory was still a cherished dream, the doubts 
and misgivings were entirely removed from Mr. 
Thompson’s mind. “ I am sure Madge loves 
you, my boy, because she came to find employ- 
ment, hoping to receive some help from you.” 

‘‘ Help from me,” exclaimed the accountant. 

I have not seen her since I said good-bye, at 
the railroad station in F .” 

“ Nevertheless she has been in the city ever 
since that day. Without relatives, in a modern 
Babylon, Mr. Thompson, I fear the worst.” 

“ Harry, do you know that the gossips of your 


6 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


native village have connected your name with her 
mysterious disappearance ? ” 

“ Liars ! ” exclaimed Harry, excitedly. ‘‘ I 
would have shielded her good name with my life.” 

“ Now you know why I am here, to vindicate 
your honor, for your father’s sake. I am here to 
find Madge, and by God’s good help I will do so 
or lose my life in the attempt.” 

Harry’s mind was filled with nameless alarms. 
So many temptations surrounded Madge; her 
beauty, her inexperience, were snares for the 
fowler. Mr. Thompson did not interrupt his 
train of thought. The young man’s thoughts 
were echoes of his own thoughts. The difficulties 
of the situation were formidable because the lapse 
of time complicated the mystery of her disappear- 
ance. The silence was painful, until Harry in an 
agitated tone of voice asked: 

“ What line of action do you propose to 
pursue ? ” 

“ You know that I am a stranger in the city, 
and must depend largely upon the generosity of 
your purse,” replied the detective. 

“ Any amount within reason, Mr. Thompson ; 
you know I am only a book-keeper.” 

“ It will not require a large sum of money ; 
mind you, I only ask you to loan me the currency 
I need for my present expenses.” 

Command me in a modest way, and when 


THOMPSON. THE DETECTIVE. '7 

you find the trail, drop me a post-card; I will 
meet you here.’' 

The shrewd Scotchman did not impart to his 
companion the whereabouts of Madge’s aunt, 
because he was not really certain that she resided 
in the city; neither did he wish to place Harry 
in a false position so far as the girl was concerned. 
With a patience rivaling Job’s he searched the 
city directory for the names of some persons that 

came from F , and now located within the 

city’s limits. 

A single name rewarded his effort. His eyes 
beamed with intelligence as the name of Peter 

T arrested his attention. A scheming limb 

of the law who was always willing to take a shady 
case, providing the retaining fee was paid in ad- 
vance. 

The next day he mounted the steep flight of 
steps that led to the advocate’s office. The busy 
greenbags was writing a brief, and with an impa- 
tient wave of his hand seated the detective. The 
brief was far from being a brief, if one might judge 
by the number of sheets, and the time it consumed 
to prepare the same. When the aforesaid brief 
was folded and placed under a paper weight, a 
brusque voice inquired : ‘‘ Well, sir, state your case 
as speedily as you can, for time is money to me.” 

‘‘ I wish to trace a title to some lands in the 
village of F ,” explained the visitor, “ here 


8 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


are the papers.” With a keen scent for the trail 
the detective noticed the changed expression of 
the face, with a slight tremor of the hands that 
were extended to receive the faded deeds. 

The aforesaid Peter T read with nerv- 

ous energy the document that had been pigeon- 
holed for many years. Some reassurance came 
to his mind as he proceeded. The detective 
noted with pleasure the softening of the lines on 
his forehead, as he returned the legally correct 
instrument to the owner and said : 

It will take more time than the case is worth 
to trace back the title to the original owners. 
Time is money to me, sir;” then he repeated the 
word money several times in quick succession, 
and stood with his back to the bookcase, with his 
glances cast in the direction of the door, a gentle 
hint that the detective was unwilling to accept. 

“ Mr. T , what would you advise in the 

premises? Who are the witnesses to the deed? 
Perhaps I could get some information from them 
that would be of benefit to me.” 

The wily lawyer gave a quick, penetrating 
look in the would-be client’s face that allayed the 
momentary suspicion. He turned the leaves 
rapidly until he reached the last page. When he 
•came to the name of Madam V., another stealthy 
; sidewise glance was fruitless ; the countenance of 
Mr. Thompson was as innocent as the face of a 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 9 

child. An inquiring gaze that was almost simple 
unto imbecility queried: 

“ Sir, could you direct me to some other law- 
yer who would be willing to take my business? 
Surely there must be something worthy of inves- 
tigation.” 

“ Some of the witnesses are still living,” re- 
plied the advocate. “ Madam V. keeps a board- 
ing house on West street. I do not know 

the number on the house.” 

“ I thank you for the information. I am on 
my way to the village of F. ; a letter from you, 
or the Madam, would be very acceptable.” 

“Not from me, sir; not from me. I will, 
however, oblige you by giving you the Madam’s 
address.” 

The attorney refused the proffered fee, and 
with a relieved sigh repeated slowly: “Time is 
money ! money ! ” The detective descended slow- 
ly the flight of steps ; an inward glow of satisfac- 
tion made his heart beat faster. 

“ Better than I hoped for,” he muttered; “ the 
old villain did not recognize me; two valuable 
points in the game to my score. Well! well! I 
have a specimen of his hand writing that will be 
valuable to me, later. I have the Madam’s ad- 
dress, I know that both of these worthies have 
not been to F for a long time.” 

“ He glanced at the face of his timepiece and 


T 


lO THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

boarded a car for the up town district. The num- 
ber was rusted. He glanced sharply at the brown 
stone front from which the paint had disappeared. 
The inside blinds were closed, the door plate had 
been removed, a general air of neglect made him 
hesitate, as he touched the electric button that 
gave no sound. 

“ Ah ! old lawbags, you intentionally misled 
me as sure as my name is Thompson ; I will outwit 
you; I have yet four hours of daylight.” 

He took from his pocket a memorandum book 
and noted therein the name of the real estate 
agent. Without loss of a moment he returned to 
the heart of the city and entered the handsomely 
furnished apartments of the firm he was looking 
for. 

The number of house seekers were comfort- 
ably seated in the richly upholstered armchairs. 
Mr. Thompson listened to the various complaints 
that were poured into the patient ears of the 
affable agent. His glances were quick to notice 
that the largest number of applicants were board-- 
ing house keepers — the class of ladies he wished 
most to cultivate; none of these could furnish the 
desired information. When his turn came, with 
a directness that was business like, he said : 

“ I am a stranger in the city looking for an 
investment; would you permit me to examine 
your list of desirable property?” 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE- II 

“ With pleasure, be seated at this table, here 
is the list.” 

Several long sheets were fastened at the top 
with a patent clip. Deliberately he turned a page 
at a time and closely scanned the columns, until 
the last customer retired; the number and street 
were plainly marked, the absence of blue check 
marks indicated that the property was unde- 
sirable. 

The pleasant voice of the agent recalled the 
detective from the train of reasoning that 
shrewdly surmised that No. — had been vacant 
a very long time. 

“ Have you found anything to suit you, sir? ” 

“ If I buy I shall expect a bargain. I note the 
absence of check marks on this list; the two first 
pages are pretty well scored with them; please to 
give me the desired information.” 

“ The minus dash after each residence is a 
private ear mark of our own; we make it a con- 
sideration in a deal, because the property is un- 
desirable. The check mark indicates that the 
houses are either rented or sold.” 

“ Why are they classed as undesirable ? ” 
queried the detective. “ Here is a house that 
would suit my purposes excellently w'ell, hot and 
cold baths, with all modern improvements.” 

We have other realty more desirable,” he 
replied. '‘That number is an unlucky number. 


I 


12 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

A lady by the name of Madam V. purchased the 
same, and could not meet the monthly install- 
ments. A dozen of landladies have looked over 
the premises. A superstition haunts the place 
like the shadow of a ghost, because those who 
ventured with boarders were sold out by the 
sheriff.” , 

“ It is a foolish superstition,” exclaimed Mr. 
Thompson. 

“ Not so foolish as you imagine. There is 
folk lore, and fairy lore, and boarding house lore ; 
for the latter reason the house has been vacant 
for five or six years.” 

The detective held back the question that im- 
pulsively came to his lips, and with an indifferent 
manner remarked: “The place seems reasonably 
cheap ; let me have the keys and I will return them 
to-morrow.” 

“ We require some reference,” the agent said. 

“ Certainly, perfectly proper. Do you know 
my friend Harry Monteet, who is confidential 
book-keeper for the firm of ? ” 

“ Quite well ; they say he is going to marry the 
head proprietor’s daughter ; a fine young man, but 
a little wild.” He did not see the paleness that 
came like a flash to Mr. Thompson’s face, and as 
quickly disappeared. 

While the agent was using the telephone the 
stranger recovered his composure. The keys 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. I3 

were placed in his hand; with a courteous good 
evening, he bowed himself out of the office. 

The following day he mounted the dusty flight 
of steps of Number — . A feeling of secret satis- 
faction strengthened his resolve, as he fitted each 
particular key to each particular lock. Every 
scrap of paper was vigilantly scrutinized. One by 
one he filed the precious bits of paper in his 
leather pocket book. Severely worded duns to 
non-paying boarders, scented choicely construct- 
ed sentences, requesting the favor of a small loan ; 
grocer’s bills that were not receipted, came into 
his possession. His eager fingers clutched the 
scattered pieces of a photograph. Patiently he 
matched the parts. Poor Madge looked up at 
him with her great, pleading eyes. There was 
an anxious expression that smote him sharply. 
The Madam must have been in a violent mood 
when she tore the picture into fragments. Thus 
a small part of her life history came into his 
keeping. 

With steadfast patience he tramped from gro- 
cery to grocery, produced billheads, and sought 

the information he desired. The firm of 

looked carefully over the old accounts and sharply 
asked : 

“ Why do you wish to know? Is she a rela- 
tive of yours ? ” 


14 


THOMPSON, THH DETECTIVE. 


“ Not exactly. I have some business with her 
that is pressing.” 

“Any money in it?” eagerly exclaimed the 
merchant. 

“ There may be. Why do you ask? ” 

He said something to one of the clerks, who 
quitted the office speedily and returned. The 
answer was satisfactory ; the young man handed 
the detective a card. The grocer turned to his 
desk and with a brusque good day intimated that 
the interview was ended. 

“ At last, Madam, I have you in my grasp ; 
here is your little card. I wonder if she will 
recognize me after the lapse of so many years. 
I must move cautiously; she is a shrewd, sharp 
woman whose wits have been sharpened by ad- 
versity. I will see Harry, to-night. 

At ten o’clock sharp, he sauntered into the 
saloon and seated himself in one of the leather- 
bound chairs. His success was phenomenal. 
When Harry finished the game of pool, he ex- 
cused his withdrawal by a slight movement of his 
hand in the direction of his friend. When they 
were comfortably seated at the far end of the 
room, the young man exclaimed : “ What luck did 
you have, Mr. Thompson? I ask you this ques- 
tion because your face is as passive as the features 
of a marble statue.” 

“ For two days I have been on the trail. I 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. I5 

have located the Madam; here is her card, con- 
gratulate me.” 

The accountant placed the bit of paste-board 
in the palm of his hand, spelled slowly each word. 
In an absent-minded way he returned the card 
without a single remark; an awkward silence fol- 
lowed this motion. While the detective placed 
the valuable piece of information in his memo- 
randum book, he coughed slightly. Harry was 
all attention, as he spoke in a low voice: “ For- 
give me, my friend; I was trying to recall a cir- 
cumstance that happened five or six years ago.” 

“ Can you refresh your memory? It will aid 
me very much in my investigation.” 

‘‘ I fear the worst,” the young man exclaimed; 
“ I saw a picture that reminded me very much of 
Madge in the possession of as grand a roue as 
ever walked the streets. 

“Was it like this? I found this portrait in 
a pile of rubbish in a vacant house once occupied 
by the Madam.” The old man had carefully 
matched the fragments, and strengthened the 
back by pasting a piece of transparent paper over 
the writing on the reverse side. 

The accountant looked long and earnestly at 
the girlish face that once was so dear to him. 
“ They were the happiest days of my life,” he 
sighed. “ Here it is strain, strain ; sometimes I 


l6 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

think the pressure must make me a madman, or 
a thief.” 

“ Never a thief, my boy. It is not in your 
blood. I believe such weaknesses are due to the 
force of circumstances. We blame the moral side 
of a man's nature for what was bred by pride.” 

“ Mr. Thompson, what induced you to seek 
the thankless position of a detective ? ” While 
Harry asked the question he fixed his honest gaze 
full on the countenance of his companion. 

“To find Madge; what other business would 
bring me here ? ” 

“ Would it not be well to let the past sleep 
forever? If she has drifted into the stream of 
vice, I, for one, do not wish to know it.” 

A pained expression swept over the face of 
Air. Thompson as he replied : “ Harry, I thought 
you were made of better stuff; you look at the 
darkest side. Then you are unwilling to aid me 
in this praiseworthy undertaking? ” 

“ I did not say so. I love Aladge with all the 
old time love, and if she is in the city I will help 
you to find the dear girl, God bless her.” 

Is your love for the daughter of your em- 
ployer so strong that it will cause you to break 
the promise you once made to your first love? ” 
How do you know that I made a promise. 
Air. Thompson? Who are you and where did 
you come from? ” 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. \J 

“ Don’t let a money consideration influence 
the nobler side of your nature, Harry. If we can 
find the dear girl, and you will marry her, you 
will be wealthy enough to own three large houses, 
each one grander than the one that buries you 
alive.” 

“If Madge has fallen, what then? Would 
you as my father’s friend ask me to make such a 
sacrifice? ” 

“ Let us be sure that she has gone to the bad, 
then I will give you my answer. Why do you 
take such a gloomy view of the situation, Harry?” 

“ Because the Madam is crooked, so I have 
heard. If Madge sought the protection of such 
a relative, I certainly have reason to fear the 
worst. Can you blame me for my doubts? ” 

“Not for a moment, Harry; suspend judg- 
ment until I make a full report. The girl had a 
head of her own, her Scottish blood and training 
must count for something.” 

“ Suppose she has changed her name? Your 
undertaking is herculean. If you succeed in lo- 
cating her I will promise to do my part, but do 
not ask me to do the house of illfame act. You 
know the world winks at a small dose of vice ; 
a larger dose nauseates; I would lose my posi- 
tion.” 

“ I do not ask you to make such a sacrifice. 


l8 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

my boy. Advance me the small amounts I may 
need; I will do the work.’’ 

You have carte blanche to* draw on liieTor 
any reasonable amount. Do you need a further 
sum, to-night ? ” 

“ I have more than half the amount that you 
loaned to me. I fear the Madam; my disguise 
must be perfect; her sharp eyes must be blinded, 
else will all my labor be for naught.” 

“ I have a closet in my room where you can 
conceal your wigs, costumes and weapons; here 
is a duplicate key to my den. You can sleep 
there if you so desire.” 

** I must not be seen in your company again. 
This saloon is too public. You will meet me 
often, Harry; everything will be false about me 
except my manhood and my heart. Should I pass 
you on the sidewalk, or wish to speak to you, I 
will make this movement with my hand; all de- 
pends upon your silence.” 

The detective gazed with solicitude at the re- 
treating figure. “ Silence,” he repeated reflec- 
tively to himself. “ I might have spared myself 
the trouble of such an admonition. I have not 
gained one bit of information from his lips. He 
was as mute as an oyster when he handed me the 
Madam s card. An unprincipled woman is the 
meanest of all God s creations ; perhaps she has 
the boy in her power, who can tell ? who can tell ? ” 


CHAPTER 11. 


INTERVIEWS THE MADAM. 

When the accountant was out of sight, Mr. 
Thompson lighted a fresh cigar and strolled to 
the piers where steamers and sailing vessels were 
loading and unloading. He had been a sailor 
himself ; the great ocean with its craft was more 
agreeable to him than his new position. 

The next morning he reported to the detective 
agency. The superintendent examined closely 
his credentials. A low whistle from the officer 
was the only comment. He returned the creden- 
tials to Mr. Thompson, and added: “You are 
playing for a big game; here is luck to you.’^ 

When he quitted the agency he boarded the 
electric railway, and reached the crossing, which 

he followed to Z street, and turned to the 

left. The building he sought was easy to locate, 
because it was so near the center of the block; 
it had once been a palatial residence for some 
merchant prince, whose wealth increased so 
rapidly that the dignity of his position could not 
be satisfied with such plebeian quarters. The 


20 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

brown stone front had weathered badly, and was 
dingy in the extreme. The polished silver door- 
plate had long since given place to a gilt lettered 
sign, which read as follows : Boarders accom- 

modated at reasonable rates.” 

The musical vibrations of a gong brought a 
servant to the door who received his card and 
seated him in the parlor. The once gaudy up- 
holstering of the furniture looked distressingly 
seedy; the faded carpet was worn threadbare, the 
bric-a-brac had a second-hand appearance. An 
album of photographs pleaded invitingly for an 
inspection. He carefully replaced the album just 
as he found it. The naturally suspicious disposi- 
tion of the Madam was a memory from which 
there was no escape. 

An elderly lady with a careworn boarding- 
house expression in her eyes, and a shadowy bill- 
collector face, glided into the room, her feet 
encased in carpet slippers, the rustle of her skirts 
the only sound that warned him of her presence. 

A gleam of satisfaction lighted for a moment 
his bronzed face. These evidences of poverty 
were so many little signboards, to bring hope to 
his heart; the scheming designs of the Madam 
had failed to accomplish the desired end. “ Not 
too late,” mentally flashed into his brain, as he 
turned to her and politely said: 

“Madam V., I believe.” 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 21 

“Yes, sir; pray be seated.” 

His keen glances read her inmost thoughts. 
His disguise was perfect. With a thankful amen, 
he said : “ Madam, I am a stranger in the city. 

I understand that you have apartments for de- 
cayed shabby gentility at reasonable figures; any 
little corner will do; if the house is crowded, you 
can hang me on a hook in the wardrobe.” 

“ I will treat you better than that,” the Madam 
laughingly exclaimed. “ I hope, sir, we can 
please you. As you are a stranger, I shall exact 
payment in advance.” Her thoughts were even 
then elated at the lucky stroke which saved her 
household effects from seizure. 

“What are your terms. Madam?” 

“ Twenty dollars a month, room and board 
included.” 

“ Reasonable enough, Ma’m. If you so de- 
sire I will be in the city three months, at least; 
here is sixty dollars to pay for the entire time. 
You see I am not afraid to trust you.” 

“ Do not blame me, sir ; the other day, an old, 
red-faced porpoise, who tipped the beam at two 
hundred pounds, walked off owing me just this 
amount. He plastered the side of my house with 
his flaming posters : ‘ Doctor Cheat-them, Path- 
ologist, Diagnostician, and Specialist.’ At first 
he paid me promptly, then he dropped little by 
little behind, then he would absent himself on pro- 


22 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

fessional business, and then disappeared alto- 
gether.” 

“ You had his trunk for security, did you 
not?” 

Such security as it was. I would try to 
raise it, but my strength was not sufficient ; when 
I forced the lock I found it filled with bricks. 
You cannot blame me, sir; indeed you cannot.” 

Were they gold bricks. Madam? ” 

This witty sally brought a flush of anger to 
her face. It passed away with the thought, as she 
inquired : “ Have you your baggage with you ? 
I will show you to your room.” 

Madam, can you give me references? Busi- 
ness is business.” 

The names she furnished were quickly trans- 
ferred to his note book. Harry’s name was not 
of them. A great sigh of relief was breathed 
gently from his lips. 

“ She does not remember me,” he meditated. 
“ Poor human pride, how comfortable she could 

be in the village of F where she was born ! 

The city, the city ; a grave for a thousand wrecked 
hopes.” He said this while she was having his 
room prepared. She did not inform him that she 
had taken a picture from this room, a mirror from 
that room, lace curtains from the back parlor. 

Now, sir, all is ready. I hope you will like 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 23 

your room. Will you have dinner, or do you 
lunch down in the city ? ” 

“ I will always be punctual at my meals. Give 
me a night latch key; I will slip in and out; you 
will not know there is such a person in existence.^* 
“ Don’t lose it. Sometimes I have to come 
down in my night dress, which I think is horrid.” 
She gave the stranger a peculiar, coquettish look, 
that meant little or much. 

“ Harry is right,” he thought. ‘‘ I wonder 
why the boy spoke so positively, but we will see, 
we will see.” 

When the Madam was gone, he made prepara- 
tions for a long stay by filling the wardrobe and 
emptying his trunk. His pictures were neatly 
framed. He was very careful to place every arti- 
cle in marked position. His album of photo- 
graphs he placed in a conspicuous position. 
When dinner was announced, he entered the long 
apartment and glanced hastily down the table. 
He noticed that the boarders were all young men; 
he calmly endured the stares of impolite curiosity. 
Cash, cash, went down one side and up the other ; 
a score of hands deftly ran through the alpha- 
betical list of delinquents; one by one they inter- 
viewed the hostess ; they were clerks placed in the 
house to save a lost ball, just the material the 
detective wished to make use of. 

When the meal was ended, he lighted a cigar 


24 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

and again visited the piers where the foreign ships 
were moored; he visited the cold cat-fish stands 
and took a hot Scotch just to make his blood 
circulate; from. the landing he went to the Agency 
to receive his badge, or star, which was numbered 
789. He pinned it on the inside of his left lapel, 
and boarded an uptown car for home. An amused 
smile played over his honest face as he noted 
the disarrangement of his effects. She is the 
same dangerous woman, she has a duplicate key 
to my wardrobe. It is fortunate for me that the 
lock on my trunk is a tumbler lock and a good 
strong one. 

“ My album has been overhauled ; she has 
swallowed the bait, hook and all. I will await 
developments; perhaps I was a little premature; 
there is some one else I wish to reach, without 
losing any time.” 

He noticed an uneasy feeling of curiosity take 
possession of his landlady. The tension became 
too great and inquisitiveness overcome her polite- 
ness, as she asked: 

“ Were you ever in the town of F , Mr. 

Thompson?” 

“ I never heard of such a place. Madam ; why 
do you ask? ” 

“ You have a picture of a very dear friend of 
mine in your album.” 

I have a picture of a friend of yours in my 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 25 

album?” He repeated this with much astonish- 
ment. “ It cannot be possible ; show me the 
portrait.” 

She turned the pages rapidly and placed the 
face of Madge on the detective’s knees. She 
stood a little behind him and cast a sidewise glance 
at the emotionless countenance. 

“ That picture,” he answered, with a puzzled 
look on his face, that picture a sailor gave me in 
Burnam.” He saw a deathly paleness come to 
her face and he pressed his advantage. “You 
see,” he said, “ that I have a weakness for beauty; 
the different styles of nationalities are admirably 
arranged; strange to relate, I could not tell you 
the name of one person represented in this col- 
lection.” 

“ That is Madge, the very hat and dress she 
had on when she came to board with me. I am 
a relative of hers; she had a temper of her own, 
and was ungrateful and obstinate as a mule; she 
took that from her Scottish blood.” 

“Is it a Scottish trait to be obstinate?” he 
asked. 

“ Her father was a Scot, and her mother a 
Greek ; a strange combination, is it not ? He was 
an officer in Her Majesty’s service. He fell in 
love and retired on half pay. He came to 

America and drifted to F , where Madge 

was born.” 


26 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


While the Madam was relating this bit of 
family history her eyes were intently fixed upon 
the face of Mr. Thompson. The inspection was 
all that she could wish, for she continued : “ She 
was raised by an uncle, who died, her aunt mar- 
ried again and had other children; for this reason 
Madge came to me.’^ 

“ Is she with you now. Madam? 

“ No, she preferred to make a living for her- 
self. I did not like to see her go from my house, 
because girls have so many temptations to en- 
counter. Her face and figure were too attractive ; 
such a risk such girls run.” 

She sighed softly, as she said this, and waited 
for some expression to stir the sleepy face of her 
new boarder. He observed the silence and with 
an effort aroused himself from the reverie into 
which he had fallen. 

“ What became of the young girl ?” he in- 
quired. 

“ I really do not know.” 

‘‘ It is running some risk. Madam, for a young 
and unprotected young lady to brave the dangers 
of a place like this.” 

'' Do you mean to insult me, sir? I will have 
you to understand that my house is a respectable 
house.” 

“ I was only referring to the magnitude of the 
city; no reflections intended; as a relative, you 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

should have looked closer after her welfare. Do 
not be offended,” he said; “you volunteered to 
tell me this girl’s history; it seems strange that 
no one knows of her whereabouts.” 

“ Some of my boarders remember her well.” 

“ Did she ever come back to see you? ” 

“ Never. I see this is worrying you; you will 
find your room is ready; good night.” 

When his bed room door was closed and 
locked he sat for two hours gazing into the glow- 
ing grate of coals. A dozen of theories came to 
him in the stillness of night. Of one thing he 
was sure; the Madam knew where Madge was. 
He could not press her too far without betraying 
his object. With consummate skill he planned 
to spread his net for the unwary clerks, whose 
little world was bounded by the price of sugar 
and tea. A box of fine cigars he would place 
upon his mantel, and thus gain the coveted in- 
formation. 

His cigars and hot whisky punches had a 
fetching effect. The little outlay repaid him well 
for his trouble. It is true that he was compelled 
to listen to the small talk that was permeated by 
the odor of beer garderrs and variety actresses. 
He rubbed his hands vigorously, and said : 

“ Congratulate yourself, Thompson ; you have 
a starter. She is standing behind a counter, day 
after day, with a yard stick in her hands. Too 


28 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

bad, too bad. Working, perhaps, for little or 
nothing.” 

When the business of the commercial day was 
ended he waited at the entrance of Harry’s firm. 
His young friend was talking to one of the part- 
ners. He prudently walked to the corner of the 
block and shadowed the accountant, who was 
walking slowly, with his eyes directed to the side- 
walk. 

The detective touched him lightly on the arm 
and whispered: “I will follow.” When Harry 
reached his room, he placed a match to the fire 
that had been prepared and waited with some im- 
patience the coming of Mr. Thompson, who was 
not far behind. 

“ Harry, pardon my delay ; I purposely lin- 
gered. We must be cautious; one false step 
would ruin our plans.” 

“ I have been uneasy, Mr. Thompson ; your 
calling is a dangerous one. You have absented 
yourself since Monday two weeks back. Give an 
account of yourself, my friend.” 

‘‘ Congratulate me, my boy ; I have had an 
unusual run of luck. I am on the trail — a starter 
at least. It is as I supposed ; Madge came to the 
city because her uncle married ; her step aunt was 
cruel to her.” 

‘‘ Why did not Madge let me know that she 
was in the city? It is all so strange.” 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


29 

“ The Madam’s devilment is at the bottom of 
it. I am sure she told the girl that you were not 
in the city.” 

“Have you located her, Mr. Thompson?” 

“ At the dry goods emporium of B ; she 

was there six months ago; I hope she is still at 
the same place.” 

“ Six months is a long time,” exclaimed Harry. 
“ I dread to know the worst.” 

“ Fudge, my boy, I am glad she passed from the 
Madam’s control; anything would be preferable 
to that.” 

“ How will you now proceed? ” 

“ This is my reason for calling upon you. If 
she is employed by the firm, it will be easy enough 
to enact the part of a western merchant. I shall 
need a hundred dollars; I want it in one dollar 
bills.” 

“ Why in one dollar bills? ” 

“ Harry, you would never make a detective ; 
all for show. A hundred dollar bill does not look 
to be so plethoretic as one hundred one dollar 
bills.” 

“ I swear you are right ; it is bulk not value 
these days.” 

“ Here are five twenty dollar notes. You can 
have them changed at the saloons, Mr. Thomp- 
son; or, perhaps, it would be better to go to the 


t 


30 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

banks where such packages are all ready for 
circulation.” 

“Harry, have you fully made up your mind in 
regard to Madge ? ” 

“ I have, and here is my hand on it ; even to 
the very last battlement. Can you ask any more 
of me? ” 

“ Have you weighed the probabilities well ? 
It means for you, perhaps, social ostracism, and 
loss of your position.” 

“ For Madge’s sake I will make any sacrifice.” 

“ Spoken like a man, Harry. I am sure you 
will never regret the resolution you have made.” 

“ I must return to the boarding house. The 
Madam is half suspicious that I am not what I 
represent myself to be. She is no. ordinary wom- 
an; as deep as the ocean is she.” 

“Is that you, Mr. Thompson?” came from 
the bottom of the steps as he wa^ ascending to his 
room. 

“ Yes, Ma’m, why do you ask? I am not go- 
ing to jump my board.” 

A merry little laugh came from her lips as she 
closed the door of her bedroom. 

The detective noticed that his album had been 
tampered with, that the picture of Madge had 
been removed and another of the same lot had 
been substituted. 

“ I see here a little break in the pasteboard. 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


31 

The pictures were changed in a hurry. She has 
not been out of my room ten minutes. The faint- 
est odor of perfume still permeates the atmos- 
phere. There is no writing on the back of this 
one, but some information that is of more im- 
portance. I see here the artist’s name and ad- 
dress, which fixes the date of her arrival in the 
city. The Madam has already informed me that 
the hat in this likeness is the hat she had on when 
she arrived.” 

“ I will easily secure this date from the pho- 
tographer, who keeps negatives and numbers 
them; the number on this is 29,384.” He un- 
locked the wardrobe and took from the upper 
shelf a package of letters that he had purposely 
placed in a certain position. “Ha ! Ha!” he 
laughed, softly; “I have disarmed suspicion, 
for the time at least. My Australian letters serv- 
ed me a good turn.” 

At the breakfast table the Madam was more 
gracious than usual. A bad sign, a bad sign, 
Thompson repeated to himself. “ I must hurry 
up this case for Madge’s sake. We are playing 
a game of cross purposes. If she wins, I am 
ruined ; if I win, the reckoning will be terrible for 
the Madam.” 

He did not heed the sly glances of self-elation 
as she assisted the detective to don his overcoat, 
and bade him good morning with a cheery smile. 


32 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

For this reason he was more guarded than usual. 
His first appointment was with the tailor, who 
measured him for a suit of clothes of English cut. 
From there he went by a circuitous route to the 
photographer, where he gained the desired in- 
formation, and lunched at a restaurant. 

He ate leisurely. Between mouthfuls he ran 
his eyes down the column of steam-ship arrivals. 
A quick gleam of satisfaction lighted his face as 
he finished the lunch and hastened to the vessel 
for his mail, “ Ah ! ha ! ” he said, “ the Madam 
outwitted me then. It is as I thought. I can 
do nothing until my new suit is ready. Now for 
news that will place my chances upon a more 
secure foundation.” 

One week later, he put on his English suit, 
adroitly adjusted the side whiskers, placed the 
roll of one dollar bills in his long leather pocket- 
book, and entered the dry gpods emporium of 

. His heart beat a trifle faster as he moved 

from department to department in search of the 
missing girl. 

‘‘ Do you wish to look at some dry goods, 
sir?” politely inquired the floor-walker. 

“ Yes, yes; it is my wish to lay in my spring 
supply. A face is absent; the father of the girl 
is my trusted friend; I promised him that I would 
fill my order that she may have the benefit of the 
discount.” 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


33 

“We do not allow any discounts in that way. 
We pay them regular wages. If they are un- 
usually bright we advance them to more lucrative 
positions. What is the name of the young lady? “ 
he kindly asked. 

“I have her name in my book; it is Madge 
W — 

“ I do not know the name of a single saleslady 
in the store. They lose their identity here and 
are numbered. We employ a small army of 
clerks; it is the only way we can systematize our 
business.” 

“ Can you tell me if she is still in your em- 
ploy?” 

“ Wait here one moment. Some of the other 
girls may know her, or, better still, remember her 
number.” 

A tall blond came towards them that had been 
in the same department with Madge. She was 
introduced to Mr. Thompson. A shade of disap- 
pointment crept over the detective’s face. She 
was painted and rouged. The flippant air dis- 
tressed him. When the floor-walker was else- 
where, he said in a low tone : “ Can you tell me 
where Madge W is ? ” 

“ She is a dear friend of mine ; are you her 
father? How much she needed some relative to 
give her advice.” 


34 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


“ You have not answered my inquiry,” he add- 
ed, kindly. 

“ Come, to-morrow; I am not able to tell you 
now because she has been away from the firm for 
eight months, at least,” 

“ I will pay you well for the information. At 
what hour shall I call ? ” 

‘‘ After five o’clock ; then I will be at leisure.” 

‘‘ What was her number, you did not give me 
the number.” When he had booked the number 
he politely bowed himself out and returned to 
his boarding house. Come and go as he would, 
the Madam was ready to meet him, or say a 
pleasant good day. 

“ Well, sir ! Have you had luncheon ? I have 
kept your dinner warm ; you must be more 
punctual in future. I have made an exception 
to my rule, this time. You will find the soup a 
trifle cold, the steak a trifl^ overdone.” 

“ I beg of you. Madam, that you will not in- 
convenience yourself in the least on my account.” 

“ I have taken a decided fancy for your cute 
ways; besides, you are my star boarder.” As she 
said this she gave him a significant look, one that 
concealed boundless curiosity, masked by a smile. 
“I have told you everything; you have told me 
nothing; how do I know. You may be a de- 
tective for all that I can tell.” 

“ Have I not paid my board bill three months 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 35 

in advance? I am just what I represent myself 
to be, nothing more and nothing less.” 

“ That picture in your possession makes me 
suspicious. Describe the seaman’s appearance,” 
she said. Her intense stare made the detective 
feel uncomfortable. He adroitly turned the chan- 
nel of conversation, by asking: 

“ Are you a criminal from justice that you, or, 
rather your reputation, needs must bear an in- 
vestigation? ” 

“ What a strange answer to my question,” she 
exclaimed, with evident embarrassment. The 
self-possessed bearing was swept away with one 
stroke. She was on the defensive side of the po- 
sition. With a merry little laugh, she continued : 
“ Never mind, sir; I will pay you for your rude- 
ness. I will order you to take me to the theatre, 
at least twice a week. I saw your large roll of 
money.” 

“ Do you make the same demands upon all of 
your boarders ? ” he asked. 

Those that I especially like. You have seen 
my class of boarders. Do you think their purses 
could stand such depletion ? ” 

I would be very happy to give you an oyster 
luncheon once in a great while; I am tired of 
theaters.” 

‘‘ Why do you use the term oyster luncheon ? ” 

“ Some of your boarders say that you have a 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


36 

friend who prepares delectable stews. I am es- 
pecially fond of oysters.” 

A friend of mine,” she deliberately repeated. 

A common woman like that a friend of mine ! 
Who told you this? ” 

“ I beg pardon, Madam; if you will only give 
me her address I will be glad to sample her 
stews.” 

An uneasy feeling betrayed the concealed 
thoughts, a flush of anger flashed from her dark 
eyes, she tucked the comb more deeply into her 
hair, and thus hid the momentary confusion while 
she wearily exclaimed : “ This business is killing 
me; something to eat, something to drink, some- 
thing to wear — when will it end ? ” 


CHAPTER III. 


MEETS THE SALESLADY. 

When the Madam quitted the room he glanced 
sharply at his watch. “ Twenty minutes to five ; 
I will just have time to meet the young lady.’’ 

A throb of compassion made an extra heart 
beat, as he noted the tired droop of the eyes and 
the expressionless movement of her body. This 
shop girl with her dispirited air was the intimate 
friend of Madge, and Madge for the poor pittance 
of four dollars a week stood behind these long 
rows of counters all day long, hungry and tired, 
had roomed with three other girls in the same 
room, paying her proportion of the light house- 
keeping expenses, just enough salary to keep soul 
and body together. 

A touch on his arm recalled his morose 
thoughts. “ You are dreaming, sir.” 

“Yes, my good girl, I was dreaming. We 
will go to the nearest restaurant and get some- 
thing to eat; do not spare any expense. While 
you are eating you will tell me of your companion. 


38 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

Her father is deeply grieved, her absence is un- 
accountable.” 

“ Madge had a pretty face and attracted a 
stranger at once. Such faces are sometimes a 
misfortune.” 

“ Why did she lose her place ? ” 

“ She had a promise of higher wages else- 
where.” 

A relieved expression of mental gratitude 
made him exclaim : ‘‘ I am glad to hear you say 
so, my good girl.” 

The question he wished to ask somehow stuck 
in his throat. Another time will do. ‘‘ What 
places of amusement did she frequent ? ” 

“ None in particular. She had much attention 

from the boarders of Madam V ’s house. 

I should think they could furnish you some in- 
formation about my room-mate. She promised 
to come to see me often. Not a line or word 
from her since she left the store.” 

“ Then this is all of the news that you can 
give me ? ” he pleadingly asked. “ The boarding- 
house will, no doubt, furnish further information. 
What is the number? I will book it and investi- 
gate.” 

“ I hate the Madam,” the girl impetuously 
exclaimed ; “ I really hate her, she was so mean 
to Madge.” 

^‘How?” the detective cautiously asked. I 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 39 

do not see how any one could be harsh with my 
friend’s daughter; her disposition used to be all 
sunshine before she left home for the city.” 

“ It will ruin any one’s disposition, this exact- 
ing grind of life. Madge had the Madam to con- 
tend with. You cannot know what this means. 
She tried to sell her niece’s virtue for a round 
sum. Madge told me this with her own lips.” 

“ Great God ! she did not succeed, I hope.” 

No, Madge was firm in her determination. 
They quarrelled; since then my friend seems to 
have disappeared from the face of the earth.” 

“Where was she last seen?” Mr. Thompson 
excitedly exclaimed. 

“ At Madam ’s restaurant. She was 

with a friend named Harry. I never saw the 
gentleman before; he was handsome, tall and 
dark.” 

“ Answers Harry’s description exactly,” the 
detective mentally thought. “ It cannot be ; it 
cannot be. I recall his confusion when he handed 
me the Madam’s card.” 

“What are you saying?” the girl innocently 
asked. 

“ Nothing, nothing,” he replied. “ How her 
old father will be distressed? It is all so strange, 
I cannot understand it.” 

When they had ended the meal, Mr. Thomp- 


40 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


son kindly asked: “Would you like to go to the 
theatre, to-night?” 

“ Not to-night, thank you, I am so tired and 
worn out; to-morrow will be Saturday. We will 
go to the theatre then. When that is out, we will 
go where your friend’s child was last seen.” 

“Very good, very good; here is a ten dollar 
bill ; it will buy some comforts. I do this for your 
friend’s sake, and now good-night.” 

“ You are very kind to me, sir.” Tears were 
in her eyes as she turned away and boarded a car. 

Mr. Thompson’s face was apparently statu- 
esque in its repose. The words of the poor shop 
girl were continually repeating themselves in the 
order of their utterance. He was in no mood to 
parley with the Madam. Fortunately she was 
absent from home. With a relieved sigh, he set- 
tled himself in the cushioned rocker, and drew 
from his pocketbook the slip of paper with 
Madge’s number on it, then he locked the door 
and drew from his portfolio the odds and ends he 
gathered at the deserted house. 

He had filed them methodically. It was the 
work of a moment to extract from the bundle 
three bill heads of the before mentioned dry goods 
house. Madge’s number was on them, and be- 
neath : “ Charged to account of No. 496.” “ Per- 
haps she paid her board in this manner,” he said. 
“Ah! ha! my Lady Artful; who is your friend 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 4I 

that paid these bills that are receipted, discount 
credited to 496? Let me go over the names of 
the references she gave me when I paid my board 
in full.” 

“ Here is the name, sure enough. Thank God 
for this discovery ! I was wrong in my too hasty 
opinion of Harry. I hope that further evidence 
will bring a full vindication,” 

He looked carefully through to the end. 
Nothing rewarded his patience. “ Here a dis- 
count is allowed on this invoice. The polite 
floor-walker told me that no discounts were al- 
lowed. This gentleman that paid the Madam’s 
indebtedness must have been a privileged per- 
sonage.” 

He hastily shoved the pile of evidence into 
his trunk, because the Madam’s high-keyed voice 
came up from the first floor, with an inquiry for 
him. He carefully replaced every article in the 
room, and met her as she was half way up the 
stairway. 

“ I felt uneasy about you, Mr. Thompson ; you 
are such a stranger in the house ; I hope you have 
been entirely well?” 

He knew why she said this. The hidden sar- 
casm was not lost on him. Her purpose Avas to 
break through his reserve. His face hardened a 
little ; a look of annoyance was the only token of 


■42 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

displeasure that indicated to the Madam any 
change of feeling. 

“Why are you so reserved, Mr. Thompson? 
I do not understand your disposition. Has the 
world treated you badly? One would think so 
because you are always so serious.” 

There was a world of hidden meaning in the 
way the question was put. He knew that she 
was on her guard. Some one was giving her 
information ; he was sure of this. The name of 
the attorney, the letter that came on the English 
'Steamer in the same mail with lifs own, the look 
of exultation, confirmed this belief. He resorted 
to his old tactics; he answered her question by 
asking another. 

“ Madam,” he said, “ why are you so solicitous 
of my welfare? I am fully .,able to take care of 
myself, and especially of my affairs. I do not 
complain because you measure to me my fare 
with an exactness that is distressing, neither do 
I inquire how much your household expenses are. 
One would imagine that I was a detective, trying 
to unravel your life’s history. Have you done 
some terrible wrong in the past that must needs 
bear an investigation ? ” 

Her fciwning manner was in sharp contrast 
with her previous bearing, as she replied : “ I 

am sorry i. I have offended you, Mr. Thompson. 
\ ou are really so mysterious in vour movements, 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 43 

I never know when to expect you; you always 
come home by a different car line.’^ 

“ I suppose this is the reason that your room 
is on the first floor, that you may stand guard 
over your boarders as they come and go.” 

“You bad man, what makes you so observ- 
ing? ” 

“ It is a habit of mine,” he laughingly an- 
swered ; “ I am not dangerous.” 

The detective quitted the house and walked 
in a contrary direction from the one he expected 
to take. He was sure that he was shadowed. 
When he had turned seven corners, he stood be- 
hind the angle the corner provided and waited 
for the shadower to appear. With quiet self-pos- 
session he faced to the right; a collision was the 
result. “You cannot apologize, you scoundrel; 
you have been following me. Pick up your hat 
from the gutter; the Madam will need you to wait 
upon the table.” 

The humiliated man scrambled to his feet, 
wiped the dust from his clothes, and quickly re- 
traced his steps. When he was no longer in sight, 
Mr. Thompson expeditiously hailed a car, and 
again entered the mammoth dry goods house of 

. The same attentive gentleman quietly 

awaited the detective's pleasure. 

“ You are very kind and polite, sir; I am sure 
the gentlemen that controls this immense busi- 


44 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

ness will prosper when they have such polite 
floor-walkers.” 

“ Don’t mention it, politeness costs nothing. 
It is the cheapest capital that one can invest in. 
It always pays handsome returns. Can I show 
you our line of fresh spring goods?” 

“ I am looking over the market, leisurely, of 
course. Plenty of time. I am disappointed. 
My friend stated that his daughter was employed 
in this store. I came prepared to purchase ex- 
tensively, that the young lady might have the ben- 
efit of the sale. I think you told me that no dis- 
counts were credited to the salesladies.” 

“ Yes, sir, it is an invariable rule of the house. 
The profit on goods is so small that no exception 
can be made.” 

‘‘ I will be in the city twQ weeks, and will be 
pleased to call again. By the way, would you 
kindly tell me why the young lady was discharged? 
Her father will be sure to ask me. Any informa- 
tion you can give will be thankfully accepted.” 

“With pleasure; follow me to the office.” 

“ I have her salesnumber. For this reason 
it will not take much of your time. The tall girl 
with the blond hair was so obliging that I will 
give her any benefit such a purchase would bring 
to her.” 

There was a nervous twitching of the de- 
tective’s eyes as they traced the numerically ar- 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


45 


ranged numbers down to No. 496. With light- 
ning rapidity he glanced along the horizontal line. 
There was a blank opposite the name. “ Strange, 
is it not,” Mr. Thompson asked, “ that no reason 
is assigned for her dismissal? ” 

Wait here one moment,” the polite usher ex- 
claimed. “ I will look into the matter. Some- 
thing is radically wrong.” 

When he returned, the crest-fallen look on his 
face did not escape the sharp eyes of the would-be 
purchaser. Evidently he received a sharp repri- 
mand from his principals. “ I should not have 
shown this register,” he meekly said, as he closed 
the book with a determined slam. “ Good day, 
sir.” 

Mr. Thompson entered the private office where 
two of the officers were busily occupied, and ex- 
claimed in a firm tone of voice : “ I am the gentle- 
man that was tracing the course of a great in- 
justice. I claim the right for my friend’s sake. 
You have dismissed an employe for no reason 
whatever. The register shows a clean space op- 
posite to her name. As I said before, I claim the 
right to know why you discharged her from your 
service ? ” 

The partner that was seated nearest to the de- 
tective turned with an ill-mannered scowl on his 
face, and in a surly tone replied : It is none of — 
of — ,” the words stuck in his throat. The calm, 


46 'iHOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

cold look on the detective’s face did not permit 
the head of the firm to finish the sentence. With 
more gentleness the busy man continued: 

“ It is a difficult matter, Mr. Thompson, to 
keep track of so many salesladies; they come and 
go. The young lady you are inquiring about did 
not stay very long with us. There was an aunt 
of hers that circulated ugly reports about her.” 

For this reason you discharged her. Sir, 
then why did you not fill out the blank space op- 
posite her name?” 

“That is my business; good day, good day.” 
He turned to his correspondence and did not no- 
tice the silent inquirer as he moved through tons 
of goods to find the usher. The same suave 
greeting impelled the detective to remark: 

“ This is one time your capital 'stock of polite- 
ness did not bring you any return. I trust that 
your kindness has not been the cause of any 
serious trouble.” 

“ I received the same gratuitous advice that 
you received.” The floor-walker said this with 
an amused smile, and added in a low tone of voice : 

“I never liked Mr. very much. There 

is some restlessness in his makeup that I do not 
admire.” 

“ Quite right, quite right. I received no sat- 
isfaction whatever. What is his given name? ” 

“ Here is a card.” With a pleasant smile the 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 47 

gentlemanly attendant turned to a lady customer. 
Mr. Thompson looked around for the tall blond 
as he passed out. She was showing a lady some 

dress goods. That lady was the Madam V . 

Their backs were towards him. “ What a lucky 
escape,” he chuckled; “bless my stars, I would 
never hear the last of it, no, never.” 

He hurried to his room and added another 
link to the lengthening chain of evidence. A dis- 
appointed expression revealed the fact that the 
name on the card was not one of the references 
his landlady gave to him. 

“ So much the better, Mr. ; you are very 

well acquainted with all of the facts in the case, 
as the lawyers say. I wonder if the tall blond 
knows the arch-plotter of all of Madge’s misery. 
I will see her, to-night.” 

He did not wait for his supper but hurried to 
Harry’s rooms and donned a more suitable suit 
of black cloth, ate leisurely at a down town res- 
taurant, glanced at his watch, and hastened to 
keep his appointment. 

“ No cabs, or hacks, for Thompson,” he grunt- 
ed. “ They have numbers on the lamps — tell-tale 
evidence that is sometimes very inconvenient to 
explain away.” A genuine pang of regret smote 
him sharply as he made his best bow to the poor 
shop girl who was bedecked in all of her finery, 
so different from his own ideas of modest refine- 


48 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

ment. There was no mistaking the genuine look 
of anticipated pleasure on her face. This repaid 
him for the regret that was momentary. This 
girl could tell of Madge, her life struggle, of all 
her little heart disappointments, and of her mys- 
terious disappearance. 

‘‘Are you not going to get a coupe?” she 
asked. “ I shall feel that you are miserly. We 

will go to the Theater. A cab, if you 

cannot afford a coupe, will be the proper rig.” 

“ Do you know any genteel driver of a car- 
riage ? ” he kindly asked. “ I am a little peculiar 
in my disposition.” He waited with surpressed 
eagerness for her answer. 

“ Yes, I know a very polite hackman, but I 
do not vouchsafe for his honesty. They say he 
is crooked. I do not believe it, he has been so 
kind to me.” 

“ It is right to stand by your friends,” he said. 
“ Sometimes friends are our worst enemies ; per- 
sonal motives often make friendship a delusion.” 

“ I do not understand your fine language,” she 
replied. “ Tim has been my friend when I need- 
ed a friend.” 

“ Tim is his name, then. Where can you find 
him? You shall ride in his hack if it is your 
wish.” 

The distance is too much j we have no time 
to lose as the curtain rises at eight.” 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


49 

‘‘ What is the number of his vehicle ? I can 
make my engagements with him in advance.” 

“ His number is 762. It would be kind of 
you, sir.” 

When Mr. Thompson entered the theater 
with the saleslady on his arm, he cast a rapid 
glance over the audience to assure himself that 
the Madam was not present. She was seated six 
rows in front of him, and on the same side of the 
dress circle. The side exit was just behind them. 
‘‘ How fortunate for me that it is so convenient. 
I wonder if my companion has noted her pres- 
ence.” 

“ Who is that elegantly dressed lady six rows 
in front over to the right? She has ostrich tips 
in her hat, and a red opera cloak well thrown 
back to display the quilted white satin lining.” 

“ I do not know who she is,” the girl replied. 

I see her often in the store. She has a line of 
credit because what she buys is guaranteed by Mr. 
M., the gentleman that is with her.” 

“ He must be wealthy. I cannot see his full 
face, he is removing his overcoat; what a frank, 
manly way he has of looking at you.” 

The shop girl looked steadily from one to the 
other and exclaimed: “He must be your twin 
brother. I never saw such a close resemblance 
in all my life.” 

Fortunately the play was advanced to a climax. 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


50 

For this reason, the remark was unnoticed, even 
by those seated nearest to them. 

Mr. Thompson paid scant attention to the 
acts or actors. A play was on the boards far more 
thrilling, because it was real. With his usual 
caution he noted the information that might be 
of use to him later. A feeling of relief banished 
the gloomy thoughts. His protege was not ac- 
quainted with his landlady. Her visit to the store 
was meaningless. So far, the sailing was smooth 
enough. 

The curtain had not unrolled to the floor, when 
the detective and his friend reached the sidewalk, 
and stood in the shade of the electric light. 
While the tall blond arranged her wraps, he 
watched Madam V. pass down the crowded aisle. 

“ If you are good I will introduce you to our 
set. We are a close corporation, sir, I will have 
you understand, but you will have to pay for the 
privilege.” Before the astonished escort could 
protest, she hailed a coupe, and directed the whip 
to No. — , Blank street. 

The chagrined man pulled his hat-brim down 
over his eyes, and discreetly climbed out of the 
vehicle on the off side, placed the two silver dol- 
lars in the jehu’s palm and entered the restaurant. 
The merriment was at its height, consequently 
they passed unnoticed to the rear of the room 
where convenient little stalls were curtained. 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 5I 

This arrangement afforded him every opportunity 
to see without being seen. 

“ Make your selection, my good girl. I know 
that such windfalls do not often come your way. 
Remember, to-morrow will be Sunday. You will 
have all day to sleep and rest. Oysters and white 
wine first? So let it be. Waiter, fill the order 
with dispatch.” 

While they were feasting and drinking, the 
detective studied deeply the pleasure-seeking 
throng, bent on making a night of it. A little 
fear crept into his heart as the continuous babble 
drifted towards them. A remark from his com- 
panion cut short his meditation. 

‘‘ None of that, none of that. Come, sir, am 
I so uninteresting that you should be admiring 
other girls?” 

They leaned forward until their faces almost 
touched. The girl’s forehead was flushed with the 
wine she drank. In a confidential tone he said: 
“You promised to tell me all about Madge, and 
especially what she said to you of her unhappy 
life.” 

“You are sitting in the chair that she used 
when she was here the last time I saw her.” 

“ Who was her escort ? ” 

“ A tall, dark, handsome man ; he was swell, 
to be sure; diamonds galore, and best of all, 
money galore.” 


52 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


“ Was his name Harry? the detective eager- 
ly inquired. 

“ No ; at least this man’s ^ace is not so hand- 
some as the picture of the friend that Madge was 
trying so hard to find when she first arrived in 
New York.” 

‘‘ Are you sick ? ” the girl exclaimed in alarm. 
Your brow is dripping with moisture. You seem 
to take a great interest in this friend of mine, 
considering that she is no relation of yours.” 

“ If you could see the suffering of her parents, 
I am sure you would aid me to carry home some 
tidings of this missing daughter.” 

“ I will, I will,” she impulsively replied. “ To 
continue, Madge hoped to find Harry, as she 
called him. She was a green country maiden, 
with pretty, red cheeks and coal black eyes, dan- 
gerous possessions in a big city like this. She 
complained to me of the Madam’s fast ways, and 
even hinted that her aunt tried to sell her virtue.” 

“Who to? To what person?” Mr. Thomp- 
son quickly asked. 

“ She never told me who the person was. 
Anyhow they quarrelled. Madge came to the 
store. Her face was a drawing card ; that brought 
money to the firm. Her employment was not so 
tiresome as mine was, because she sold perfumery 
and soaps. I do not know why we should have 
been such friends. I gave her the benefit of five 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 53 

years' experience, and invited her to share our 
room and light housekeeping expenses." 

“ How much salary did the firm pay her, my 
good girl ? " 

“ Four dollars a week. For this pitiful 
amount, Madge was expected to be at her counter 
by seven, stand on her feet all day, and go home 
in the night." 

“ What a miserable existence," he exclaimed, 
as he brought his clenched fist down on the table, 
and made the dishes rattle. “ I do not wonder 
that these poor girls go wrong." 

“ You do not understand the self-reliant dis- 
position of this class. Contact with men makes 
them excellent judges of human nature. Of 
course, the temptation, when mingled with pride, 
sometimes lures them to an easier life, but not 
often is such the case." 

“ I am following closely your history of 
Madge; continue, please." 

“ She was with the firm six or eight months. 
I saw her for the last time at this table." Then, 
in a low whisper, she said : “ Here comes the 

Madam who owns the place. She is a bad one; 
between us, I believe she knows where my room- 
mate is." 

‘‘ Are you waited upon ? I always go the 
rounds that none of my customers may com- 
plain." 


54 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


The detective purposely displayed his big roll 
of bank bills and asked for his slip. 

. ‘‘ You will find it at the cashier’s desk. Be- 

fore you leave have a glass of wine with me.” 

“ With much pleasure. I have enjoyed your 
toothsome cooking very much, and shall be pleas- 
ed to call again.” V/hen the proprietress with- 
drew, the detective queried : “ Have you been to 

this place often? Why did you say that the 
Madam knew of your friend’s whereabouts?” 

“ Because several of my chums have disap- 
peared, and, like Madge, were seen here for the 
last time.” 

The pulsing arteries of were thronged 

with restless humanity, mammon and money 
crowding weaker life to the wall. The glare of 
electric lights faded into the sober tints of morn- 
ing, when the detective reached his room. The 
carpeted stairway befriended him, the doors never 
creaked a sound, and unobserved he sought his 
bed well pleased with the night’s work. 

“ To think of it,” he repeated slowly to him- 
self. “ I am sure that I am on the right track. 
Harry must help me, and yet I dislike to drag 
the poor boy into trouble. He must cultivate 
this restaurant woman. We will lunch there, to- 
morrow. How her coal black eyes glistened 
when she saw my roll of greenbacks. I heard 
her tell the shop girl, * Not to lose sight of me.’ ” 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


55 


He had some good reason for introducing 
Harry to this enemy of virtue. It was the touch- 
stone of guilt or innocence. The tall, dark young 
man was a frequenter of the saloon. The 
thought that it might be Harry overcame him. 
With nervous haste he entered the counting room 
that at the hour of twelve was vacant. He made 
known his wishes to his boy. He did not tell him 
of the ruse, or the nature of the motive by which 
he was to be judged. 

The place was new to the accountant. The 
distance from his place of business was fully three 
miles. “ Mr. Thompson, I should not have ac- 
cepted your invitation because I am very busy, 
to-day.” 

“ Harry, you will thank me for the invitation 
when you know that in this place Madge was seen 
for the last time. Here our real work begins; 
no halting now. I have done my part. Upon 
you falls the responsibility of the situation. Do 
you love poor Madge enough to run the chances 
of the world’s condemnation?” 

“ You have my word, Mr. Thompson.” 

“ Thank you a thousand times for your manly 
frankness. You will cultivate that soulless wom- 
an over there. Money is her god, and while we 
eat I will tell you what I have accomplished.” 

When the detective ended the narration of 


56 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

facts, Harry exclaimed : “ What a wonderful 

man you are.'’ 

“ Not so wonderful as you imagine. A little 
common sense goes a long ways in this detective 
business.” 

When they finished the well-prepared lunch, 
they touched glasses at the bar. The Madam's 
face expressed wonder when her eyes rested fully 
on the bookkeeper's face. ‘‘ Are you and Frank 
D related? I never saw such a resem- 

blance in my life.” 

“ Perhaps I am fortunate, especially so if he 
is handsome,” Harry courteously replied. 

“ My friend here would be delighted to make 
his acquaintance if you will give us his address.” 

She looked keenly at the detective and re- 
plied : “ I never introduce anyone here ; we are 

all so free and easy that a knockdown is entirely 
unnecessary.” 

With a pressing invitation to call again, the 
friends separated, Harry to his desk and Thomp- 
son to his boarding house. Madam V met 

him most graciously. A feeling of uneasiness 
was plainly discernible. The light bantering man- 
ner was exchanged for a purring coquetry that 
he despised. The Cinderella of the princes’ ball 
was shorn of her finery. Comparisons were 
odious ; neither knew how to break the ice of re- 
straint. 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 57 

Sir, you are a very mysterious personage,” 
she hesitatingly exclaimed. “ I never know when 
to expect you, and never know where to find you.” 

“ Is it an American custom to put tracers af- 
ter your irregular boarders ? One of your dining- 
room boys dogged my footsteps for a dozen of 
blocks. I will not stand any such nonsense.” 

“ Did he ? ” She said this with a thinly-veiled 
vein of sarcasm. You are a very important per- 
sonage just now. I have my suspicions; it is true 
that I may be mistaken; for this reason I wish 
to make assurance doubly sure. You are not 
what you represent yourself to be.” 

“May I ask an explanation? You surprise 
me. Madam. What can my private life be to you ? 
Do not save my meals for me. To be plain with 
you, please to attend to your business, and I will 
attend to mine.” 

“ You have never fully satisfied me with the 
explanation you gave me in regard to my niece’s 
picture.” 

“ Why should I be compelled to satisfy an idle 
curiosity? Have you wronged this youn^ girl in 
any way ? ” 

“ If you are a detective you pumped me dry 
with your smooth tongue and innocent ways. I 
should have told you nothing. Madge made her 
own couch to lie upon ; if she has gone to the bad 
she has no one but herself to blame.” 


58 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

“ I met a friend of yours that tells a different 
story/’ the detective replied. She said you tried 
to sell your niece’s virtue for a good round sum.” 

“ I know who told you this ; the Madam that 

keeps the restaurant down on street. She 

is right. I hope Madge has fallen so low 
that a dog v/ould not notice her. You are not a 
cute detective; you cannot swear by your beard, 
like a Mohammedan. I have noticed so often 
that it is not properly adjusted. Do you wonder 
that I know that you are not what you represent 
yourself to be? ” 

She stepped quickly up to him and threw back 
the lapel of his coat. Now deny that you are 
not a detective? There is your star and number. 
You went to the ocean steamer for your letter. 
Fool! did you think that your letter was the only 
one from England? ” 

“ You will get nothing for your trouble, be- 
cause Madge will never come into her estate until 
her father’s death is proven to the satisfaction of 
an English court. Go and work up some other 
case; you are wasting your time.” 

‘‘ Madam, I am paid with English money to 
work up this case, and I will do my duty under 
any and all circumstances. I know that money 
and influence are against me. I will use greater 
exertion because the law is on my side of the 
transaction.” 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 59 

You did not find Madge, and you never will, 
mark my words. She is miles and miles away 
from here. I can afford to be magnanimous; we 
will be friends because I need your money in my 
business.” 

“ Let it be so ; I am glad we understand each 
other. I am a poor man ; if I succeed, I will be a 
rich man. A fair field and no favors ; the contest 
is on, we will shake hands to seal the understand- 
ing.” 

Mr. Thompson went slowly up the stairs to 
his room. He securely locked the door and seated 
himself by the fire. The ruddy blaze had a thou- 
sand thoughts concealed in its bed of coals. How 
fortunate it is that she did not recognize me. If 
she had pulled my false beard from my face she 
would have seen the birth scar. I must procure 
some innocent dye stuff and redouble my precau- 
tion. I wonder what headway Harry is making. 
It is now fully a month since he has been a hab- 
ituate of the restaurant. Somehow I never meet 
him on the street, or in the room where he sleeps. 
I will hunt him up, this evening, and tell him what 
has happened at our boarding house. 

Mr. Thompson noiselessly made his way to 
the front door and was soon lost in the crowded 
thoroughfare. He did not take a car, but footed 
it all the way to Harry’s rooms. He let himself 
in with his night latch key, and waited for the 


60 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

accountant’s appearance. He did not wait long. 
The familiar footfall reached the landing at the 
head of the stairway. The detective stood be- 
hind the heavy portiere and watched his boy as 
he stood in front of the looking-glass, and shaved 
his face with neat dispatch and adjusted the laven- 
der necktie with unusual care. 

The shadow of his white face startled him. 
He turned up the gas jet fuller, and lighted the 
one on the other side of the mirror. The same 
sorrowful expression haunted him as he solil- 
oquized: “ The fate of Madge becomes a haunt- 
ing specter to peer at me from every corner of my 
troubled thoughts. How often this vision of love- 
liness wanders back to me from the Village of F. 
Sweet little Madge, whose tawny curls were kiss- 
ed by the free winds of heaven, whose rose-bud 
lips sang such merry songs, whose rich red 
cheeks were velvety and soft ; how often she gath- 
ered apronsful of wild flowers, and pelted me with 
fragrant showers.” 

“ Ah ! Madge, Madge, your little feet were 
destined to tread the wine press of sorrow alone. 
If it is not too late I will save you though I lose 
all and place my reputation in the balances to 
make the sacrifice more perfect.” 

“ Amen, I say to that noble sentiment.” 

“ You here, Mr. Thompson. I did not hear 
you come up the steps.” 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 6l 

“ I have been in the room for half an hour. 
I saw the truthful piece of acting.'’ 

“ You see that I am in earnest.” 

Harry, here is the paper you signed. You 
are free. Two wrongs do not make one right. 
If Madge has gone to the bad, it is no reason 
that you should go there also. Your employers 
were at the agency, yesterday; you know what 
it means. I am employed to shadow you. I 
want to say now, if any trouble should come to 
you, here is the address of the best detective on 
the force. He is a staunch friend of mine; you 
can trust him with your life.” 

“ Do you expect any trouble or danger, Mr. 
Thompson?” 

“ Can’t tell, can’t tell ; a detective’s movements 
are more uncertain than the weather predictions, 
not to speak of the danger. The landlady knows 
that I am a detective ; last night my life was worth 
just one rush-light. If I should be so unfor- 
tunate as to lose my life, you will find all of my 
papers in a small tin box in the chief’s big safe.” 

“ Keep the paper, I will fulfill my obligations 
to the letter, the consequences will be my reward. 
I do not care a fig for the judgment of the world, 
so long as everything is all right here.” 

“ Nobly spoken, Harry. Unfortunately you 
are living on earth, and not where the all-seeing 


52 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

eye of Divine Justice sifts the real from the un- 
real. You are going to an entertainment at your 
employer’s. I have heard that Blanche, the 
daughter of the senior partner, is deeply in love 
with you. Such a chance for a partnership does 
not often come one’s way; think well before you 
act.” 

A partnership in.what ? A firm that is doing 
business on borrowed capital. If their debts were 
paid, they would not have enough to buy a ginger 
cake. The world is a confiding creature. Show 
and display count for something where confidences 
are to be nursed.” 

“ Harry, have you committed yourself in any 
way to the merchant’s daughter? I you have, I 
will most assuredly release you from any obliga- 
tion so far as I am concerned. If you have won 
her love, stand by the troth you plighted, though 
it should break Madge’s heart.” 

“ Nothing serious, Mr. Thompson. With the 
old love in my heart, how could I forget my little 
playmate? Her misfortune makes her doubly 
dear to me. If I could have known that she was 
in the city, I would have married her at once, and 
thus ended the trouble.” 

“ Harry, do not go, to-night, unless you are 
prepared to be snubbed. I have heard that you 
will not be welcome.” 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 63 

I cannot accept your advice, for two reasons : 
I will know how many friends I have; secondly, 
I will be able to discontinue my visits and give 
Blanche a chance to overcome any affection she 
may have for me.'’ 

“ After to-night, Harry, you will understand 
what I mean. If you are brave, the reward will 
be worth the sacrifice. You are late, good bye, 
God bless you. Do not forget the tin box, or 
my friend at the agency.” 

The accountant entered the massive doors, 
whose French plate glass shone with jeweled bril- 
liancy. The elegant parlors were filled with mod- 
els of fashionable dressing. The hum of small 
talk drifted to the door in one confused wave. 
He pressed through the crowded rooms to pay 
his respects to the host and hostess. The strain- 
ed greeting chilled the impulsiveness that always 
made him a welcome visitor everywhere. A mor- 
bid feeling made Harry painfully diffident. His 
old friends were cool as the songs of charity. 

“ Thompson was right ; this is no place for me. 
I will withdraw to this little nook where the por- 
tiere will conceal me from view. They say that 
eavesdroppers never hear any good of them- 
selves.” 

“ I think Harry had a fair amount of cheek 
to come here, to-night,” said one of the waltzers, 


64 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

as the couple swept by him, leaving a fragrant 
cloud of perfume behind. 

“ I should have made myself conspicuous by 
my absence,” whispered another couple that sat 
near to him. 

A good fellow gone to the dogs,” asserted 
a third. “ What a chance he had for preferment, 
to say nothing of Miss Blanche; junior partner, 
for instance, in one of the staunchest business 
houses in the city. What fools men can be.” 

“ Wine and women,” drawled a fourth, with a 
silly leer. 

'‘Hello, Ed; when did you take to moraliz- 
ing. Let me tell you scandal-mongers some- 
thing,” exclaimed Claud, in a voice that could be 
heard all over the rooms: " You have done more 
wickedness in one hour than Harry has done in 
all of his life, and I know it. There is some 
mystery about it that we do not understand; he 
would not have thrown himself away in so short 
a time ; I will stake my existence on his integrity.” 

" Do you mean to insult us? ” fiercely mutter- 
ed several defamers. 

" I mean exactly what I say. I look around 
me at the bald-headed dudes, who are eagerly 
pulling down my friend’s reputation, when all of 
the angels from heaven have not strength enough 
to pull their own reputations up. The world is 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 65 

a sham and I know it.” The brave speaker 
whirled from the little knot, with Blanche for a 
partner. 

Harry made his way through a maze of silks, 
satins and diamonds, to the cloak room, where 
he drew on his overcoat, slowly descended the 
flight of marble steps to the iron gate.” 

Blanche, you here, out in this dreadful 
weather; go in at once, you will be a fit subject 
for the undertaker.” 

Not until you tell me what is the trouble, 
Harry. I believe you are losing your mind.” 

“ I hope no peaceably disposed person will find 
it. For this reason, I wish to set you free from 
any claims I may have upon your friendship. I 
have not at any time claimed more than a friendly 
regard, so the parting will be without any re- 
grets on either side.” 

“ Do you think my love can be thrown aside 
like an old glove? You will always be the same 
to me, Harry.” 

I am too generous to ask of you such a sac- 
rifice after the torture of this evening.” 

“ What strange part is this you are playing, 
Harry ? Some good spirit whispers to me that you 
are innocent. Stand out from the dark shadow 
that hides your true self, and I swear I will go 
down to infamy with a smile on my lips.” 


66 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

Good night. God bless you Blanche.’’ 

He fled like a madman. From the harrowing 
interview, he turned to see the white, pained face 
staring at him from the darkness. His inward 
thoughts were poor guides for the aimless foot- 
steps that drifted like the current of destiny, 
from one street to another. He did not see the 
inanimate form that was lying full length across 
the sidewalk. In his haste to retire from the gate- 
way, he stumbled over the prostrated body of a 
drunkard, whose sorrows at that time were the 
least part of his life. 

He drew from his hand the soiled glove and 
threw it away, and seated himself on a rustic iron 
seat that belonged to the tenantless house, whose 
shadows hid him from the passers by. “ Poor 
wretch,” he mournfully exclaimed; “how obliv- 
ious to pride, to honor, to shame; he is happier 
than I am, because he can forget. I cannot, I 
dare not forget, because Blanche’s tear-stained 
face hurts my heart. Better to part now, than 
later.’' 


CHAPTER IV. 


HARRY LOCATES MADGE. 

While he sat thus meditating, a stylish car- 
riage drove slowly by him. From the deep shad- 
ows he could see the face of a beautiful woman 
plainly visible in the glare of the electric light. 
She leaned forward from the cushioned seat and 
turned her full face towards him. All the bravest 
impulses of his nature were struggling for mas- 
tery. The helpless position of Madge, the self- 
sacrificing nobleness of Blanche, made an 
equipoise of his resolutions. Time was bearing 
his first love swiftly away from him. The white 
face behind the carriage window, and the cab 
that followed, decided the question for him. 
With a fierce gasp he whispered : “ Keep that 
turnout in sight and this twenty-dollar banknote 
is yours. Do not press forward indiscreetly, but 
never on your life let the vehicle get away from 
you.’’ 

“Aye! aye! sir; jump in.” The door closed 
with a click, and Harry sank into the soft cushions 


68 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

with a relieved sigh as he soliloquized : I am 

glad for Thompson’s sake that I have located 
Madge; it will advance his cause thus much. I 
am sure he was on the right trail, but who the 
devil is this unknown man that resembles me 
so much? I wonder if he has deceived my little 
playmate with this striking resemblance? ” 

These surmises were abruptly terminated by 
the sudden jolt of the cab as it brought up sharply 
just around the corner of a building. He step- 
ped quickly to the pavement and peeped around 
the corner just in time to see the elegant barouche 
glide smoothly through a wide gateway, up to the 
door of a palatial residence that was shrouded 
in gloom. A light from one of the windows on 
the other side of the building was the only evi- 
dence that the place was occupied. 

“ Shall I wait for you, sir? ” the driver politely 
asked. “ Faith and I had a race for it, sir; my 
horses are blowing like porpoises; a bit of a rest 
would do them no harm.” 

“ You can walk them slowly back to the city; 
it would be better than standing here. Here is 
your pay, my good man; a good night’s work it 
has been for you. I will follow you until you are 
out of range.” 

As the cab moved off in the direction of town, 
Harry noted the number on the lamp, 473. He 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 69 

mentally ejaculated, I will book it for future refer- 
ence. Thompson taught me this detective trick. 
God only knows what I am doing in this out-of- 

the-way part of . I do not know what the 

future has in store for me. It looks ugly for 
Madge; she is either a governess or a mistress. 
God grant that it is the former.’^ 

“ I say again, amen.’ 

“You here, Mr. Thompson? What a load 
you have lifted from my heart. How did you 
find this place? I have been priding myself on 
this neat p‘iece of detective work, only to learn 
that you have forestalled me.” 

“ I noticed you when you alighted from the 
hack. I saw you make a memorandum of the 
cab number, but you failed to note the cabman’s 
appearance. Do you think you would know him 
again if you should meet him? It is very impor- 
tant that you should keep his ugly phiz in your 
mind.” 

“ I thought the number of his cab would iden- 
tify the man.” 

“ You would not make a first-class detective, 
my boy ; the whip that drove you so furiously has 
already changed the number on his lamps three 
times, to-night.” 

“ As the memorandum is worthless, I will make 
small fragments of my first detective work.” 


70 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


“ Not with my consent. Never throw away 
the smallest bit of evidence. Things that seem 
worthless to others are little beginnings for great 
results. I have been shadowing that man for 
three months. His name is Tim; a slicker ras- 
cal never went unhanged. He is useful to me 
•now; for this reason I do not pull him.” 

What an enigma you are, Mr. Thompson. 
How can this man do us harm ? ” 

“ When you hailed his cab he was then follow- 
ing the barouche. He would have been glad to 
haul you for nothing. Your twenty dollar bill 
was an extra windfall. You will be surprised to 
learn that he is Madam V ’s trusted accom- 

plice. He will drive to the Madam’s before he 
stables his tired animals and inform her that you 
have found Madge.” 

“ How did you locate this hackman? ” 

“ Through the poor shop girl, who is inno- 
cent now, but if she allows that scoundrel to have 
control of her actions, she will soon go to the bad.” 

“ We must save Madge, to-night, Mr. Thomp- 
son ; there is no time to lose. I hate that female 
devil with all of my heart.” 

“You are in no fix to save anything. Here 
you are out this inclement night in that claw- 
hammer coat and low-cut vest. Go home at once ; 
you have to work, to-morrow.” 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


71 

“ I will take your advice and thank you for it, 
too. I am chilled to the bones. I shall never 
be able to find my way back to town.” 

“ Easy enough, my lad. Here, take a strong 
pull at this little brown flask; it will make your 
blood circulate real old Scottish whiskey. Now 
be off with you. I will be vigilant and report to 
you. I am particularly anxious that your em- 
ployer should find you in the office at the usual 
hour. I have my reasons for this, which I will 
explain to you later. I will be on guard all night ; 
nothing shall escape me. The friend I told you 
of will relieve me by morning. Follow this ave- 
nue for six blocks, then turn down to the right; 
you will find a car at the terminus. Stay, Harry ; 
be here, to-morrov/ night; you must be the hero 
to save her. You vfill relieve me as I am widen- 
ing my knowledge of this affair in another direc- 
tion.” 

When Harry was out of sight the detective 
made his way cautiously across the smoothly-shav- 
en lawn. He did this because the gravel walk was 
a danger to be avoided. The long, slanting beam 
of light that was sifted through lace curtains re- 
vealed the interior of the magnificently appointed 
room. The cheerful blaze from the coal grate 
made the pale watcher shiver as he buttoned his 
great coat from his throat to his knees, and crept 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


72 

nearer to the broad veranda, where he had a dis- 
tinct view of the interior. 

A moment later Madge entered the apartment. 
Her manner was nervous in the extreme. She 
clenched her small hands as if some imaginary 
enemy stood before her. She glided quickly from 
one side of the chamber to the other, threw her 
person upon an easy chair, and sobbed aloud. 

The detective stood in the shadow like some 
dumb statue. A dozen of times he resolved to 
make his presence known by a slight tap on the 
window-pane. “ Not yet, not yet,” he repeated, 
disconsolately ; “ the play is not out. I would 
undo all that I have done.” He withdrew farther 
into the shadow. The light was extinguished, 
the flickering shadows of the firelight glimmered 
on the wall. No person entered the bed room 
and all was well. 

When day was coldly breaking, Mr. Thomp- 
son took a strong pull at his flask and noted the 
position of the outhouses, the gateways, the en- 
trances to the house, for the movements of Madge 
were of the utmost importance to him. Mr. Mac- 
Kenzie, his friend at the agency, came to him and 
silently took up the thread of the investigation. 
With all of the skill of an experienced civil en- 
gineer, he drew from his side pocket a measur- 
ing tape line, his notebook and pencil, and was 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 73 

soon absorbed in his work. He always run his 
lines in such a manner that no suspicion would 
mar the fitness of his calculations, and yet he 
managed to keep his range of vision on every part 
of the premises. At the noon-tide hour he 
leisurely ate his lunch, and smoked his pipe with 
a genuine relish. 

The magnificent residence loomed up behind 
the park wall with a lonesome grandeur that was 
chilling. No children played upon the lawns, or 
made the hours lighter with their joyous laugh. 
Only the curling of smoke from one of the terra 
cotta chimneys, and the passing and repassing 
of the trained servants, indicated occupancy. Mr. 
MacKenzie was well pleased when the young ac- 
countant relieved him. 

“ Is the young girl still there ? ” Harry asked 
in a subdued tone of voice, and awaited the de- 
tective’s answer with anxiety. 

“ She has never made any noise that I ever 
heard.” The detective said this so dryly that 
Harry laughed heartily. 

“ Look ! ” the agency man exclaimed, “ the 
girl remembers your laugh ; a good omen for you. 
See, she parts the lace curtains and is observing 
us intently. Stand a little farther in the shade.” 

Why should I be so cautious ? I would much 
prefer that she should come to me. I do not like 


74 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

the idea of prowling around other person’s prem- 
ises.” 

“No would-be Romeos for you in this case. 
You must follow Mr. Thompson’s directions to 
the letter — no hacks, no cabs. When you get the 
girl out of the house walk a dozen of squares, and 
take the cars, find a preacher, and get married at 
once.” 

“Not on your life, sir; how do I know she 
may not be already married? I am willing to do 
anything honorable to save Madge. I must know 
what I am doing, sir.” 

“ Have it your own way, lad ; there are older 
heads than yours in the world; you must be the 
judge of your own actions.” 

“ Good night, my lad, good night.” 

When the detective was gone, Harry made his 
way cautiously along the wall until he was oppo- 
site the window where Madge was standing. He 
crossed the lawn and stood directly under the 
window of her room. It was an easy matter to 
climb, hand over hand, up to the veranda where 
he could see into the room without being seen. 
“ Poor Madge,” he exclaimed; “ she has been cry- 
ing.” There was no one in the chamber. He 
noiselessly opened the door and stood by the girl’s 
side. 

“ Don’t cry, my little playmate. Hush ! do not 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 75 

scream. I have come to save you, to marry you 
if you are still single.’’ 

“Marry me? Harry.” She said this in a 
dazed way that showed that her mind was wander- 
ing. “ Marry me? No! you do not mean what 
you say.” 

He raised her head from his shoulder, he look- 
ed long and intently into her eyes, and exclaimed : 
“ The girl is a lunatic; persecution has unhinged 
her mind.” 

“ I love you, Harry ; I love you ; do not leave 
me. I sought you everywhere. They were cruel 
to me.” 

“ Madge, I heard a door open, I am sure. 
The clicking of the night-latch was too loud to be 
mistaken.” 

“ In here, quick.” 

He glided into the closet where it was stifling. 
Skirts and dresses deadened the tones of the 
voices. It seemed that there were more than two 
persons in the room. The high pitch of the con- 
versation plainly indicated that the murderers 
were quarreling. He listened with that intense- 
ness of nerves that made his hearing acute; the 
oaths of two men, the pleading of Madge, a des- 
perate struggle, a scream from the woman, made 
his position unbearable. He threw back the door 


76 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

of his prison and sprang to the center of the apart- 
ment. 

He did not see the faces of the men that slam- 
med the door behind them as they fled. He 
raised the inanimate form of Madge from the 
blood-stained carpet; he dashed water in her face; 
a look of horror made his face bloodless. Madge 
had the fatal knife in her hand, the man’s throat 
was cut from ear to ear! 


CHAPTER V. 


HARRY IN PRISON. 

“ My God! what does it all mean? ” he gasped 
in breathless astonishment. “ This knife that I 
wrenched from Madge’s hand is mine; how did 
she get it? There is some villainous plot here. 
One of the voices resembles the voice of some 
one I know.” 

What an unhappy ending of this miserable 
affair,” the prisoner moaned. “ I am in a felon’s 
cell with these irons on my wrists and ankles. I 
am accused of murdering a man I never saw in my 
life. A brooding despondency causes my head 
to ache; what does it all mean? Madge was not 
physically able to cut that stranger’s throat, yet 
she was standing over him with my knife in her 
hand.” 

He pushed his hand into his pocket a dozen 
of times; his knife was not to be found. He ran 
his hand through his hair in a dazed manner and 
continued : “ The dead man was strikingly like 

Mr. Thompson, as I now recall him to my mind. 


78 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

I must have some explanation from the detective ; 
until that time my lips are closed.” 

The next morning a daily paper was handed 
to him wherein he read : “ A mysterious murder. 

A society man gone wrong. A package of money 
missing. The murderer shadowed for months. 
His mistress in a madhouse.” 

The unfeeling warden watched every changing 
expression of his face to base an opinion. The 
straight-forward, honest face that once was a pass- 
port anywhere had changed; his unshaven beard 
and neglected appearance confirmed the criticism, 
and every one who gazed at him through the grat- 
ing acquiesced in the jailor’s surmises. 

Only a slight elevation of his eyebrows indi- 
cated the terrible feeling of horror as he read the 
last lines of the caption: “Madge in a mad- 
house ! ” These words burned into his brain, and 
yet the warden was standing there moulding pub- 
lic prejudice just as though his helpless victim 
was devoid of human feeling. 

“ What are you standing there for, you brute,” 
exclaimed Claud, who so nobly defended Harry 
the night of the entertainment. “ Do you think 
a man has no feeling? You are not paid for such 
intrusive impudence.” 

When the deputy withdrew, Claud placed his 
hand affectionately upon his friend’s shoulder and 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


79 


cheerfully remarked: ‘‘ Look up, Harry; I want 
you to unbosom your very soul to me. I will 
clear you because I feel that you are a wronged 
man. No power on earth can change this ver- 
dict. The opportunity to serve you will be a god- 
send. To tell you the truth, my practice is so 
meager that I am a regular free lunch fiend.” 

“ God bless you, Claud, for the noble senti- 
ment that you expressed. I am afraid your case 
will end in failure. Look at these headlines ; you 
can read them across the cell. Such items go a 
long way where public opinion is the judge. This, 
in turn, will influence the jury, and should I be 
cleared by a jury, these newspapers that now give 
me three columns, will, perhaps, use the smallest 
space in some obscure corner to notify the public 
of the exhoneration.” 

“ You take a gloomy view of the situation, 
Harry. Tut ! tut ! ! I shall not permit you to 
despond. Life is before you, my boy; tell to me 
how it all happened ? ” 

Seek Mr. Thompson, and bring him here at 
once. You will find him at the detective agency; 
and also deliver this sealed package in person, to 
whom it is addressed. You will find the gentle- 
man also at the agency.” 

When the young lawyer departed, the ac- 
countant relapsed into the usual moody silence. 


80 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

The reporters that sought to make a scoop were 
nonplussed at his reticence. 

Claud hastened to the agency and inquired for 
Mr. Z. Thompson. They were unable to give him 
the desired information. He placed the sealed 
package in the hands of MacKenzie, who mo- 
tioned him to a seat while the gentleman read the 
contents carefully and placed the envelope in his 
pocket. As he did so, he moved to the far cor- 
ner of the office and said in a low tone of voice : 

“ Looks ugly for your young friend ; strong 
circumstantial evidence against him; don’t know 
how it is going to turn out, for you never know 
just how a jury will decide. Be assured of one 
thing, you can count on me from start to finish.” 

“ What remuneration will you expect, Mr. 
MacKenzie? You know my friend has no money, 
and I am very sure that I am in a like condition, 
and when one is down, perhaps, you have heard of 
the proverbial kick, and the down hiU part of the 
saying.” 

“ Mr. Thompson has made all arrangements 
and left money in the safe for just such a con- 
tingency.” 

“ What a noble man he is,” exclaimed Claud, 
with enthusiasm ; “ not that I expect one cent as 
a fee; my friendship is not estimated by dollars 
and cents.” 


V 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 8l 

Neither is mine,” said the detective as he 
grasped Claud by the hand. Thompson did me 
a favor once, and I am not the one to forget it. 
We are losing time. Go to his boarding house; 
here is the address, and see if he is at home. I 
have not seen him for two days; he is usually so 
prompt to report, each day. Come back at once ; 
I will wait for you here.” 

Claud hastened to find the Madam who was 
busy with her household duties. She, neverthe- 
less, vouchsafed him a respectful hearing. 

“ Is Mr. Thompson still boarding with you? ” 
he politely asked. 

“ I have not seen him for two days. As he 
has paid his board in advance, I do not feel uneasy, 
neither do I care a baubee whether he ever re- 
turns to my establishment or not.” 

Why do you speak so uncharitably,” Claud 
asked. “ I should think such customers were 
worth the seeking?” 

“ He is a detective. I hate men who are al- 
ways prowling around after some devilment. I 
have not seen him since the night of the murder.” 
The quick eyes noted the little confusion of her 
manner as she said this, and he increased her con- 
fusion by saying: “ I believe you know where Mr. 
Thompson is.” 

“I presume you are a detective, too?” 


82 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

“ No, Madam, I am not, but I am a judge of 
human nature. You have in some way been bene- 
fited by Harry Monteet’s imprisonment, and the 
disappearance of the detective confirms this be- 
lief.” He glanced at his watch; he was due at the 
agency in twenty minutes ; he excused himself and 
hurried to keep his appointment. Mr. MacKen- 
zie was walking rapidly from one side of the office 
to the other. He did not notice the entrance of 
the lawyer; he was digesting the contents of the 
package that he had taken from the safe. A 
slight ahem! from Claud caused him to turn 
squarely around and approach. 

“ Well, young man, what have you to say for 
yourself,” he kindly asked. “ Have you any news 
of my friend? ” 

“ He has not been home since day before yes- 
terday. I am sure she knows of his absence.” 

“ I am sure that she is a female devil, backed by 
money. I have here a complete history of the 
case. I admire Thompson’s skill; he was no or- 
dinary man. He is working below his station in 
life. I will take up the trail where he stopped. 
We will go to the prison and interview the unfor- 
tunate man.” 

The detective and the lawyer stepped into the 
cell. The dim light made the prisoner’s face a 
trifle paler. The gentleness of his breathing was 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 83 

an indication that the death of the stranger did 
not lie heavily on his mind. The reaction of his 
exhausted nature made sleep a ministering angel 
that brought peace to the troubled heart. 

‘‘ It is a pity to arouse him from so refreshing 
sleep. We will creep on tiptoe, and wait in the 
corridor where there are watch chairs. Do not 
speak of the case outside of this cell. I have my 
reasons for making the request.” 

- “ Certainly, Mr. MacKenzie ; your wishes shall 
be a sacred law. I would never forgive myself 
if Harry’s case should go against him through any 
fault of mine.” 

“ Your friend is awake, we will return; stand 
at the door and keep a sharp lookout up and down 
the passage way, and on either side of the arch. 
You will then know why I made such a request.” 

Claud, is that you? Is Mr. MacKenzie with 
you? ” 

“ Mr. MacKenzie, let me introduce to you my 
friend, Harry Monteet.” When the formality of 
the introduction was modified, Claud continued: 
“ Remember, your life is in his hands, and all de- 
pends upon the information you give to him ; don’t 
be over magnanimous and try to play a dangerous 
part, and shield a crime at the expense of your 
honor.” 

I am sure I appreciate your staunch friend- 


84 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

ship very much. The lies in the case are before 
the public. Mr. Thompson can tell you all the 
positions even better than myself. I was merely 
the proverbial chestnut.” 

“ Mr. Thompson has mysteriously disappeared. 
The entire force are on the hunt for him; so far, 
not a trace has been discovered.” 

A startled expression came to Harry’s face. 
“ Gone! gone! ” he repeated in a dazed manner; 

there is foul play somewhere. I will not believe 
that he has deserted me.” 

“ Nevertheless he has gone. You can stake 
your existence that he has not deserted you. 
Answer some questions that will be of importance 
when the case comes up. The evidence is very 
strong against you. How do you account for the 
package of money that was found on your person? 
A bundle of new money is a dead give away, be- 
cause the bills were consecutively numbered just 
as they came from the sub-treasury.’^ 

“ Found a package of money on my person! ” 
Harry exclaimed in astonishment. “ The money 
you describe was part of a special deposit in the 
inner safe of the big safe. No one to my knowl- 
edge has molested the contents for years.” 

‘‘ Did you have the combination to this inner 
compartment ? ” 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 85 

‘‘ Yes, for the reason that important papers 
were filed away.” 

“ Did you ever have occasion to examine these 
papers, or count the bank notes that made this 
special deposit? ” 

“ I never counted the money because it was 
a special deposit. The papers were transactions 
of the whaling vessels that we overhauled when 
the ships were in port.” 

‘‘ Good, very good. I like the way you an- 
swer, young man. Now, tell me, did any one have 
the combination besides yourself?” 

“ Yes, both of the partners had the combina- 
tion.” 

‘‘ Don’t you think that it was very unbusiness- 
like to be responsible for cash under such circum- 
stances ? ” 

“ As I understood it, they did not hold me re- 
sponsible.” 

‘‘ Strange that you should have thought so, 
considering the fact that theft has been added to 
the charge of murder in your case.” 

“ Do you mean to tell me that Blanche’s father 
made such a charge as that? The idea is pre- 
posterous.” 

“ The affidavit is signed by both of your em- 
ployers. Do you know if the balance of the de- 
posit is in the inner safe, and can you give me the 


86 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

reason why that large amount of money should 
remain so long untouched? ” 

“ The stranger that placed the money with the 
firm deposited gold in the bank and received gold 
notes in return.” 

“ Can you give me the name of the bank? ” 

“ Yes, the name of the bank is . I 

think the transaction occurred five years ago, if 
my memory serves me correctly.” 

“ Did the globe-trotter ever return to claim 
the money? ” 

“ No, sir, he never came back. He may be 
dead for all that I know.” 

“ Would you know the man if you should meet 
him again ? ” 

“ I would not, because I was busy at the time 
and paid no particular attention to the deal.” 

‘‘ Do you know how long it takes one of these 
whaling vessels to make a round trip ? ” 

“ That depends on the luck they have.” 

“ Can you give me the names of these ships, 
and the dates of their sailing? Pardon me for 
asking so many questions ; your life and good name 
depend on your answers.” 

‘‘ The Jonna, The Catch and the Sylvia. Do 
you suspect any one? Or, in other words, have 
you a clue to the real murderer?” 

In this detective business one must not be 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 87 

certain of anything, we so often draw wrong con- 
clusions from so-called positive information. 
Now about the knife you had in your hand when 
you were arrested; could you swear that it was 
really your knife?” 

Claud gave it to me not long since. He 
would identify it beyond a doubt. It had my name 
engraved on the handle.” 

“ Had you used it much, and how long have 
you had it? ” 

‘‘ Seven or eight months, as near as I can re- 
member. I used it roughly sometimes, drawing 
tacks and opening cans.” 

“ Did it have any nicks in the blade that you 
can remember; if so, whereabouts on the blade? ” 
‘‘ Near the point, you will find three deep nicks, 
and one at the end nearest the handle.” 

“ Now, my young friend, give me the particu- 
lars of the murder as you saw it. How did you 
happen to have your knife in your hand? Was 
it in self-defense that you cut the man’s throat? ” 
Harry was silent. Madge’s honor was at 
stake. He could explain away the night adven- 
ture and tell how he climbed up the iron lattice 
work to the gallery above and entered her bed 
room, but he would not inform the detective how 
he concealed his person in the closet. The pa- 
pers would send these circumstances broadcast to 


88 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

the world and blacken a fair name. He felt as- 
sured that the person or persons that committed 
the deed would never speak of it, and thus impli- 
cate themselves. 

“ I will never tell you, so do not insist upon this 
unpleasant part of the interview. If you can 
clear me on the evidence that you already possess, 
well and good; if you cannot, let the law take its 
course. I certainly will not tell to any one the 
horrors of that awful night, let the consequences 
be what they may.’’ 

“ Perhaps you will change your mind when 
your nervous excitement is quieted. In the mean- 
time, I will see what can be done with the evi- 
dence you have so freely given to your lawyer 
friend and myself. Mr. Thompson informed me 
that his detective outfit was in a closet on the 
north side of your room. I may have to make 
use of the odds and ends that, as Shakespeare 
says, ‘ make a man play many parts.’ We would 
also beg that you will allow us to use the room 
for consultation.” 

“ Here is the key. You will find coal and wood 
in abundance. Claud, why not use it for your 
sleeping purposes ? I have a lease that has three 
or four years to run; I may never use it again.” 

Tut! tut! lad, none of that. All I request of 
you is to keep your mouth shut, and we will make 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 89 

a masterly defense, that will be an honor to your 
chum here.’’ 

“ Did you keep a keen lookout for intruders ? ’’ 
the detective asked. 

** I noticed a measly-looking lawyer promenad- 
ing at the far end of the corridor. I think he 
was too far away to hear what we were saying. 
I know him; a worse specimen of humanity was 
never created.’^ The detective looked soberly at 
the advocate as he said this. 

“You would never make a detective; there 
is an uncertainty now that makes the evidence 
doubtful. How do we know that he did not hear 
everything we said, and if he did, how easy it 
would be to make the two knives agree in every 
particular.” 

“ Then there were two knives,” Claud eagerly 
inquired. 

“ I did not say so, my young friend. How 
easily that lawyer could substitute one for the 
other, and thus fix the deed upon Harry with fa- 
tal results. I do not even know that there are two 
knives. I am sure of one thing, that the prisoner 
has been victimized in some way. Can you give 
me the lawyer’s name?” 

“ I thought so ; the most dangerous man that 
one could have anything to do with, because he 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


90 

is unprincipaled. Go to the other end and listen ; 
can you hear what I am saying?” 

“ Not one whisper can I hear.” 

With a parting injunction to Harry, the de- 
tective and lawyer quitted the cell and walked 
leisurely to the bookkeeper’s sanctum. The cau- 
tious Scot looked carefully backwards. The at- 
tenuated form of Mr. glided from one cor- 

ner to the next. “ Do not look around ; that 
eavesdropper has been following us for five 
squares; we will turn down this alley and enter a 
secluded courtyard that used to be named The 
Five Courts, or, rather. The Five Points. He 
Avill fight shy of the place because Thompson has 
one on him.” 

The ruse proved successful. A quiet laugh 
from Mr. MacKenzie was all the attorney received 
for his inquisitiveness. When they mounted the 
steep flight of steps that led to the sanctum, 
Claud lighted the coal in the grate. The warmth 
of the place made them more sociable. Points 
of difference were settled and plans for the future 
were adopted. 


CHAPTER VI. 

ON Thompson’s trail. 


“ It is a perilous undertaking for me,” the de- 
tective mentally thought. “ I was a sailor once, 
I will be a sailor again. Thompson befriended 
me when I was in a dangerous position. No halt- 
ing now; besides, he has both ends of the trail. 
I can do nothing until his return.” 

I could not tell the young man.” He said 
this while he was donning a sailor’s garb. When 
all of the changes had been made to his satisfac- 
tion, he gave to his walk a peculiar rolling gait 
that made the disguise complete, and betook him- 
self to the clearing house, and glanced along the 
column of ups, arrivals, and departures of crafts 
of all kinds. 

“ Can you tell me when a whaler will sail for 
the Arctic regions?” 

You mean a school-teacher,” the pleasant 
clerk replied. 

‘‘ I mean a sure enough ship with hull, mast, 
sails and spars.” I can use the witty gentleman, 


92 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


the sailor thought, as he added : “ That is not so 

bad; do you often have such spells?” 

“ Only at school, when I wished that all the 
whalers were at the North Pole.” 

“No doubt of it; at all events, the whalers 
seem to have sharpened your wits in a wonderful 
manner.” 

“ Is it not cold enough here without tempting 
Providence up in that forsaken region of the 
earth?” 

“ When a man is busted he does not mind the 
degrees of heat and cold. I learned that these 
skippers paid very full wages.” 

“You want to ship, then? There is a vessel 
now in port that just returned from a successful 
cruise.” Then, he added, in a low, confidential 
tone of voice: “The skipper is a brute.” 

“ I do not mind that ; I do my duty and ask 
no questions.” 

“You are easily pleased. You bet you can 
get employment; one-third of the crew jumped 
him.” 

“ Where do they touch glasses ? I will thank 
you for the advice, and take my bearings accord- 
ingly.” 

“ In a grog shop near the North Pier. The 
sign of the arrow will guide you all right.” 

When the business of the day had been at- 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 93 

tended to, Mr. MacKenzie gave an extra hitch to 
his belt (wherein was thrust an ugly looking mess 
knife) and made his way to the dram house, where 
he found the crew of the Jonna making a night 
of it. Quietly he seated himself at the table and 
joined in the conversation. The little group were 
not so noisy as those at the tables near the door. 
‘‘ Is there a chance to ship on the Jonna, mess- 
mates? ” he asked. 

“ All the chance you want. What port do 
you hail from?” the mate inquired. As he said 
this, he gave a squinting leer at the detective, and 
waited for an answer. 

“ I have not been aboard a ship for a good 
twelve months ; you see my flippers are soft as the 
blubber of a whale. I was raised on the sea, 
the old life comes back to me. I am no lands- 
man to run afoul of every breaker.” 

This was greeted with a laugh, and some 
knowing winks. Mr. MacKenzie threw a quar- 
ter of a dollar on the table and called for more 
drinks. When the glasses were emptied, the luck 
of the cruise was cussed and discussed. The dan- 
ger of the service, the brutality of the skipper, all 
furnished food for thought. 

The description of the men that were lost did 
not correspond with the description that made 
Thompson a striking person. The detective did 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


94 

not know that his friend sailed on the Jonna. 
From the skipper’s makeup, he came to the con- 
clusion that this ruffian was the person selected 
to do such dirty work. 

“Where does the skipper cast anchor?” the 
would-be sailor asked. 

“ Haul to, shipmate, till I take my reckoning ; 
he is spliced to as sorry a craft as ever weathered 
a squall.” 

“ Where can I overhaul him ? I am close 
reefed and am scudding under bare poles.” 

“ Take your bearings on the Clearing House, 
and mind ye, make the papers trim as a land 
shark can make them. No harm for the anchor- 
ing.” In a low tone of voice he continued : “ The 
purser is out of the way when we are ashore ; it 
is a good twelve month since we have seen the 
color of our greenbacks; it’s either ship or no 
pay.” 

Mr. MacKenzie drank the last sailor under the 
table, and hastened to find Claud. A rough shake 
awakened him. The apparition of the seaman 
startled the attorney, who sat upright in Harry’s 
bed. He was stupefied till the hearty laugh of the 
detective reassured him. 

“ You don’t know me in this rig, my young 
friend, do you ? Hush ! no explanations ; my best 
friend would not know me. I am to sail on the 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


95 

Jonna at ten, to-morrow. I have a suspicion 
that Thompson has been foully dealth with; it is 
only a suspicion. I will be homeward bound six 
months from now. You must fight for time when 
the case comes up. I shall depend on your skill 
as a lawyer to help Harry.” 

** All right, you can count on my efforts in that 
direction. Can nothing be done in the meantime? 
It is a long time for Harry to stay in prison.” 

“ As I said before, Thompson must be found. 
He has some information that I do not possess. 
It is two o’clock ; I will turn in and get what 
sleep I can.” 

At nine in the morning the detective entered 
the portals of the Clearing House and awaited the 
coming of the skipper. A forbidding-looking 
seaman was talking to the clerk, whose wit was a 
distinct mark of affability. Several times they 
glanced in his direction. Then the skipper shuf- 
fled towards Thompson’s friend and asked in a 
rough manner: 

“Want ter ship on the Jonna? Staunch a 
craft as ever sailed the sea. Good pay, hard work 
and plenty of it.” 

“ Aye ! aye ! sir. It’s what I am here for. I’m 
a bit tender like, sir, but on the sea you’ll find no 
better hearty afloat.” 

The skipper had a repulsive, sinister counte- 


g6 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

nance. His snaky black eyes overhauled the re- 
cruit from stem to stern. He shook his head 
doubtfully and said : “ Did you sail before the 

mast, or aft? You are a suspicious craft. I’ll 
take ye. It don’t take long to break a lad in; a 
rope’s end is a wonderful persuader. Where is 
your kit ? ” 

There was no hearty heave ho ! as the click of 
the capstan at every turn brought the stocks of 
the anchor up to the hawse hole, where it was 
secured by an extra turn of the chain. The sullen 
looks of the men, the skipper’s curses as he shout- 
ed his orders in a fog horn voice, the fussy little 
tug that towed the Jonna out of the harbor, were 
poor promises for the detective who received un- 
usual attention. His work was done with such 
neatness and dispatch that the skipper paid no 
further attention to him but went below, and call- 
ed the mate to him. 

MacKenzie climbed down the forward hatch 
and swung his hammock where he could keep a 
weather eye on the forecastle. The watches were 
set, the sails set to catch the quartering breeze 
that sent them along at ten knots an hour. The 
fresh salt air came to him like the breath of his 
earlier days. The glumness of the crew was so 
much material to work upon. It might have 
been better and it might be worse. 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


97 


Four bells struck; as the crew was shorthand- 
ed the watches came oftener. The detective cast 
a quick, sharp look at the seamen that were 
standing watch with him. He was a good judge 
of human nature. Instinctively he felt that these 
sailors could be depended upon in case of an 
emergency. 

The stillness of early morning hovered over 
the ship. The snoring of the tired salts, the 
creaking of the cordage, the spray from the cut 
water, the dull glare of the binnacle, made silence 
a wise precaution. As the hour wore on the 
three sailors whispered in a low, confidential way 
that could not be heard at the main hatchway. 

“You lost three of the crew overboard?” 
the new seaman asked in a whisper. “ Not much 
luck about that. How about the fourth man? ” 

“Belay there, messmate! Shu! easy. Foul 
play. The poor devil! they drugged his grog at 
the sign of the arrow and took him aboard. The 
skipper beat him unmercifully.” 

“ Go on, heave ahead my hearty. What were 
his reasons for such belating? What had the 
sailor lad done ? ” 

“ We beat up around and off the shore of New 
Foundland for a month, when a lad from the top 
gallant yards sang out, ‘ She blows ! ’ Two miles 
to the windward as fine a catch as ever spouted 


98 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

came to the surface. The ship’s boats were 
swung from the davits, and manned by Edmon- 
son and three men, the poor devil was as fine a 
seaman as ever cast the log. The chase was ex- 
citing; other boats followed; the first yawl ran 
alongside and gave the whale a good one over the 
right flipper. The reel was hot with the paying 
out of the line. In a moment the blower turned 
and crushed the boat like a shell. Edmonson was 
saved, and three went under. The skipper had or- 
ders to kill the saved man, and he tried to run the 
harpoon through him. The crew stood hard by 
their messmate; for a month the brute swore at 
the crew. Fear kept him from braining the lad 
with a marlinspike. The Jonna sailed well up to 
the shore of Greenland, where the skipper put 
him ashore and left him to die of hunger and 
cold.” 

“ Will the ship sail to that point? ” 

“ As straight as her cut-water can pint. It’s 
luck hauls the Jonna has for sailing in them 
waters. Ye’r as trim a lad in the rigging as one 
would wish to find ; kin ye handle a ship as well ? ” 

“ I was raised on the sea ; my father was a 
captain of one of the largest merchantmen that 
ever left New Bedford. Why do you ask? ” 

The skipper is a bad one ; he owes the crew 
the full wages of one cruise; never the cent of his 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 99 

money hev we seen. We’ve about made up our 
minds to sail the ship on our own account, throw 
the skipper overboard and kill the mates.” 

“ Don’t do that ; the courts will hang you for 
piracy — hang you to the yard arm, every mother’s 
son of you. Make up your time ; when we return 
I have a young lawyer friend who will sequester 
the ship and cargo for the amount of your wages.” 

“ If we find your messmate will you join us? 
Here is the roughest hand that ever braced a 
main sail in a blow; put your flipper in mine and 
the paper is signed.” 

“Can we count on the crew?” the detective 
whispered as he looked around with a suspicious 
air. 

“ Aye ! aye ! messmate. The marks on our 
backs are scores to be settled, sooner or later; ye 
may trust us for that.” 

“ Are you the leader, or is some other salt the 
man to be depended upon. I notice they are 
heavily armed and seem to keep together, or at 
least in striking distance of each other.” 

“ Call me Red Ned. Ye’ve the main top 
braces and mesilf the mizzensail; togither we’ll 
put back; a bether crew niver sailed a ship.” 

Eight bells rang out sharply on the frosty air. 
Red Ned and his companion turned in when the 
next watch was set. As they climbed down the 

LofC. 


100 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

hatchway Red Ned thrust his great, brawny hand 
in MacKenzie’s and the compact was sealed. 

The skipper kept a watchful eye on the new 
addition to the crew. There was something about 
the set of the lower jaw that indicated bull dog 
tenacity. The brute felt that he was standing in 
the presence of a seaman of no ordinary intelli- 
gence. 

“ How long have you been ashore, my 
hearty ? ” the skipper asked, with an air that 
meant to be pleasant, but which resembled the 
growl of a savage. 

A number of years, sir.’' The sailor gave a 
backward scrape of his foot, and touched his skull 
cap with a respectful salute. 

‘‘ Ye’re a neat lad and do yer work well; yer 
flipper’s tinder as the breast of a spring chicken; 
yer gab’s proper, too proper for the likes of us. 
I do na like too much sail in the top gallant rig- 
ging. I took ye, I took ye, fur bether or wurse, 
liken the parson says. I wer short handed or the 
likes of ye wuld nevher crossed the waterways.” 

Three more rufflanly men could not be found. 
The grog had blunted the bronzed visages with 
a puffy appearance that gave a reddish tinge to 
their complexions. The short stubby whiskers 
added to the whole. A grim sullenness com- 
pleted the picture. 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. lOI 

On the fourth night Red Ned and the detective 
were seated between the foremast and the fore- 
hatchway. The ship’s prow tugged at the hawse- 
? hole where the chain grated with a monotonous 
rasp against the side of the ship. 

They were anchored off the Island of Fare- 
well. The precipitous headland was clear of ice 
at this season of the year, and towered above them 
to the sky. The passage to this point was a 
succession of tacks to windward. They did this 
to avoid the icebergs that now and then drifted 
southward. 

“ Ned, what induced the skipper to anchor here? 
It is the roughest spot on the globe. The cur- 
rent that is sweeping from east to west strains 
every plank in the ship’s keel. The ice will be 
forming, then we will be frozen in for the winter ; 
the storms have a special grudge against the 
headland.” 

“ Not so loud,. messmate; the mate’s ugly phiz 
is keeping a sharp lookout this way; he is stand- 
ing by the steersman ; did ye hear him order him 
to hold her head hard agin the current ; do ye ken 
her reckoning? ” 

“ Latitude, 59-49, Longtitude, 43-54 West.” 

“Ye ken well; ye’re a gude wan; sailed in 
these waters, hev ye? ” exclaimed Ned in delight. 


102 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

as he scratched his bushy red hair in a contem- 
plative manner. 

“ I have been here half a dozen times. I am 
afraid of this delay. The \vind ain’t in the right 
quarter. I wish there was more sea room. We 
are liable to have a blow at any time. Some 
devilment in the wind as sure as my name is Mac- 
Kenzie.” 

The red nappy mane of Ned made four square 
turns to the four cardinal points of the compass 
and settled towards the eye of the wind. “ Can’t 
see it, messmate.” 

“ Listen ! The vessel is pounding like a 
sledge-hammer. It is well her cables are strong, 
or we would go to pieces in an hour.” 

“ Wake up the skipper, Ned; we have no time 
to lose.” 

“ And get a cursing, messmate.” 

Anything but a beamsend.” The keen mind 
of the detective was on the alert. The days were 
rounding into months, yet he was no nearer to 
the object that brought him on the perilous voy- 
age. The three officers of the ship were vigilant ; 
fortunately the crew while they did not avoid him 
yet they held aloof from him, which circumstance 
disarmed suspicion. 

‘‘ Go, Ned; no time to lose.” 

The tall brawny seaman disappeared dpwn the 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 103 

main hatchway and soon returned accompanied by 
the skipper, who gave one look at the barometer 
and gave his orders to the mate. The shrill whis- 
tle of the mate emptied the hammocks; its sound 
had a hundred echoes in the frowning cliff. 

The lads heaved at the capstan bars with a 
will, the sheet anchor came up with a thud, the 
ship’s bow caught the full strength of the current 
and swung off three points. The men scrambled 
to the boomkins and close-reefed the jib, the sails 
were clewed close to the braces, and two lads were 
at the wheel. 

“ Here is a glass of grog to wet your whistle, 
Ned. Your vigilance saved the old tub ; we would 
have gone ashore stern first; who was on the 
watch with you ? ” 

The glum skipper turned on his heel and with 
an oath said : “ I made a fluke taking that land 

lubber on board. I am sure he is not what he 
seems; he is seaman enough to know that I had 
no orders to hold the ship in the channel; h’ll 
never sail back to port to tell it.” 

Ned, I want to say a word to you on our 
next watch, which will be to-night. I have 
pledged my word to the crew, and I shall expect 
them to stand by me when I need them.” 

“ No fear of that, sir. We are beating up to 
the shores of Greenland where the skipper put 


104 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

your friend ashore. The skipper is watching us.” 

When the watch was set, Ned and his mess- 
mate drew farther away from the forehatch and 
seated themselves where the jib-boom was clewed 
to the deck. 

Ned, tell me all about my friend. Did they 
put him ashore without food or shelter?” 

“ It was the skipper’s orders ; we rigged him 
fore and aft for a bluffer, gave him a gun and 
ammunition.” 

“ What were his chances ? ” 

“ Poor enough unless a stray band of Esqui- 
maux picked him up. Your friend is buried in 
some drift ; no human craft could weather such a 
gale. The snow was drifting everywhere, the 
wind was blowing great guns.” 

“ You think it is useless to make the at- 
tempt?” 

Aye\ aye! messmate; you are game. We 
will not be the ones to cut adrift from you. 
Blast my maintop, how are we going to manage 
the skipper and his dirty set?” 

Our chance will come. From the way that 
brute has been handling the craft there is some- 
thing in the wind.” 

The next morning the skipper was sweeping 
the horizon in search of blubber. All hands were 
piped to quarters, the ship’s course was changed ; 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. I05 

with a favorable breeze they overhauled a great 
dark mass that was churning the sea a dozen cable 
lengths ahead. The boats were lowered and 
manned, the flash of the oars, the regular dip of 
the blades, the excitement of the chase that lasted 
all day was a change from the routine of a sailor’s 
life. 

MacKenzie was ordered with the detail that 
manned the skipper’s gig. The doomed man fol- 
lowed every movement of the brute who tried in 
vain to bully and curse him. He obeyed every 
order with alacrity, at the same time his hand felt 
for his mess knife whose sheath of a snake’s skin 
glistened with an ugly luster. 


CHAPTER VIL 


FOUL PLAY. 

Some thought came to the skipper. The 
chase was abandoned, the boats were hoisted to 
their davits. The bully passed the grog around; 
the tin cups were full but not the seamen. A 
warning signal from the detective gave them a 
hint which they were not slow to adopt. 

As Mac passed Red-headed Ned he whispered, 
‘‘ be ready when I let something fall heavily.'' 

“How’s your fist, my hearty?” the skipper 
asked. “ Ned says you can figure, too; take this 
paper and put down what I call out.” 

Every item from an anchor to a marlin spike 
was tabulated in the seaman’s best style. “ Have 
you come to the cargo? ” 

“ Aye ! aye ! sir. I am there now.” 

“ Put down twenty tanks of oil, two thousand 
gallons to the tank.” 

“ Sir, we have not a gallon of oil on board.” 

“ Put it down,” roared the bully in a fury. 
“ Not a word from your lips; I know what I am 
about.” 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


107 


“ Aye! aye! sir; down it is.” 

Put there two thousand seal skins.” 

‘‘Two thousand it is, sir; and no questions 
asked.” 

“ Three thousand pounds of whalebone. 
Have you room at the bottom for more ? ” 

“ Here is another piece of writing paper.” 

“ One ton of cryolite. It’s there straight as 
the ship’s keel, and ye hev done it well; now add 
it all up and see how much it is worth. Here is 
a list of the prices.” 

The cunning eyes of the three watched the 
busy fingers multiply and add, as they indolently 
pulled at as many short pipes. “ What are your 
figures, my lad? ” 

“ Eighty thousand, four hundred and sixty- 
three dollars,” the reckoner replied, as he passed 
the sheets over to the skipper whose face soften- 
ed with satisfaction as he said: “ Ye hev dun 
it well, my lad. Step into that stateroom and 
hand me down that black bottle from the shelf; 
the one with the cork out; it is something that 
will oil your guzzler away down.” 

The shelf upon which the black bottle was 
supposed to be was higher than the detective’s 
head. There were other bottles in addition to 
the one with the cork out. He stood upon an 
empty keg and caught the bottle with his left 


Io8 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

hand around the bulging neck. With his right 
hand he drew from his jacket a vial which con- 
tained laudanum. He emptied the contents of 
the vial into the whiskey. 

The impatient growl of the skipper hastened 
his movements. “ Avast there, me hearty ! Be 
lively about it, we are dry as fishes.” 

“ Aye ! aye ! sir ! The one with the cork out 
is not full.” He said this because a bundle of let- 
ters was on the same shelf with the liquor. The 
handwriting was familiar. “ What a lucky find 
for Thompson,” he thought, as he climbed down 
from the keg and placed the bottle on the mess 
table in the cabin. “ It is almost full.” As he 
said this he gave the contents a vigorous shake 
to make the effect more certain. 

“ It’s old Scotch, the body’s than” With this 
explanation he filled the dirty tumblers to the 
edges. “ Not yet, belay there, the signing must 
be done; call the crew down, my lad.” 

The skipper had a good word for each seaman 
as he wrote in the rudest fashion his name to 
the inventory, and with a scrape and a bow with- 
drew to the deck where an additional ration of 
grog was issued. A warning sign from the de- 
tective was returned with a grateful recognition. 

“ Mac, take this glass of whiskey, my lad. I 
did not take to you at the start; the wind has 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


109 


veered to a softer quarter. I intended to make 
you walk the plank. I don’t know why.” He 
said this reflectively while he sipped his grog. 
“ You never befouled me.” He had already 
gulped down his liquor and absent-mindedly ap- 
propriated the tumblerful that he had poured out 
for Mac. “ Never mind, lad, there is more in the 
locker.” 

‘‘I am sure of that, sir.” 

The grog was getting the better of the skipper 
and his mates. The old bullying manner return- 
ed, as he roared : ‘‘ Do ye knaw why I had ye 

draw the paper, my hearty? ” 

“ Suppose you’ll be on the sea till you gig 
seals and secure sperm oil enough to make the 
figures good,” the scribe replied. 

“ I am going to scuttle the old scow.” 

“ My God,” the detective groaned, “you don’t 
mean it; you are joking!” 

A roar of laughter followed this startling piece 
of information. When the mirth had subsided 
the skipper continued: “The Jonna has sailed 
her last trip; she has been condemned as unsea- 
worthy by the landsmen; her owners have in- 
sured her for the full amount ; down she goes to 
Davy Jones’ locker, with crew and all thrown 
in for trimmings.” 

“ Great God ! man, you are not going to send 
the crew to their death in such a cruel way.” 


no 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


“ We owe them half of the value of the paper in 
wages. I have a score to settle with them ; down 
they go.’^ 

While the brutes were roaring with laughter 
the detective noticed the suspicious movements 
of the scullion and the steersman. They had au- 
gers in their hands. He saw the gleam of the 
steel as they crept stealthily down in the hold of 
the Jonna. It was a moment of anxious suspense 
to the principal actor in this terrible tragedy. The 
laudanum seemed slow in its action. He could 
hear the steady boring down in the rancid dark- 
ness. Once in a while the faint glimmer of the 
lantern cast a beam of light upwards. 

The drowsy heads fell forward on the table* 
Mac had little time to spare. He raised a tum- 
bler high over his head and brought it down with a 
crash that shivered it to small pieces. He heard 
the quick shuffling of feet on deck and the cabin 
was filled with men. 

“ Man the pumps, quick ; we Ve no time to lose ; 
secure the devils that are boring holes in the ship’s 
keel.” The order was obeyed with a hearty “ aye, 
aye, sir.” He could hear the steady stroke of the 
piston; he could hear the flow of the bilge water 
as it flowed along the waterways, and the plunge 
of the stream as it flowed from the scuppers into 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. m 

the sea. Then came the welcome sound : “ All 

right below, sir.” The pump valves scraped, the 
ship was saved. 

The skipper, the mates, the scullion, and the 
helmsman, were securely ironed and confined in 
one of the bulkheads in the forecastle. It was 
with difficulty that the detective restrained the 
crew from murdering these wretches, whose bul- 
lying threats fell on heedless ears. In vain the 
skipper threatened a rope’s end, and a yard arm, 
for an act of piracy that deprived him of his ship. 
MacKenzie was resolute. When he was certain 
the prisoners were properly secured he called the 
seamen together and said : 

‘‘Red Ned, you will act as first mate; upon 
you will depend the safety of the Jonna. Ben, 
you will act as second mate; do your duty well. 
As we sail northward, keep a lookout for blub- 
ber; we will stow away enough to pay you the 
wages due you to the time of our dropping anchor 
in the harbor of 

“ Put the Jonna about, we will luff up to the 
point where my friend was put ashore.” 

“ Aye ! aye ! sir, about it is ; the wind is in the 
right quarter; we will send her along at a twelve 
knot run.” 

Affairs had changed on the vessel. The or- 
derly manner in which the Jonna was handled in- 


1 12 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


spired the men with a respect that was mingled 
with gratitude. The ruffianly orders that were 
mingled with curses were no longer heard. The 
sight of armed officers no longer gave to the salts 
that sullen, hang-dog visage that makes a petty 
tyrant a dictator to be dreaded. 

With the keys that he had taken from the 
skipper’s pocket he opened the stout cedar chest 
that was securely bound with brass trimmings. 
He added the stray letters he found in the locker 
to the bundle that he found on the shelf where 
the whiskey was. Some were postmarked Lon- 
don. He opened two or three of them. They 
were from James Finn, Barrister, eighty-six Tem- 
ple Court. 

“ I don’t know anything about Thompson’s 
business. Something deeper here than I can 
manage. I will keep these for him. They may 
. be valuable in some way. Here is a photograph 
of a stylish woman; I wonder if it is Madam 

V . I never met her, consequently I am in 

doubt. This goes with the letters. What next? 
A cravat stained with blood. I must have been 
careless. I should have gone more into the evi- 
dence of crime, then these guilty trophies would 
have given me a history of the case. It may be the 
property of the murdered man, and it may not 
I have belonged to him. A suit of citizen’s clothes 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. II3 

at the bottom of the chest, also stained with blood. 
The coat is torn in three places. I will not be 
able to secure this garment, but I will make a 
note of the tailor that made it together with the 
address ; also a description of the coat. He re- 
placed every article that was too bulky to take 
with him. He placed the prisoner’s property in 
the inner pocket of his pea jacket and climbed 
down into the bulkhead where a lantern gave a 
sickly glare and a most offensive odor. 

“ Who gave you the power to put me in irons, 
and confine me in this dark hole? Belay me, I 
was a sucker to let you come aboard ; ye gab was 
too slick. I am a fool for the want of sense.” 

“ Who gave you orders to make a false 
inventory that you might collect the insurance? 
By whose authority were you going to send this 
old scow to the bottom, and send men to their 
death because you owed them half of the value of 
the cargo? ” 

The skipper was silent. Something told him 
that the interrogator was no ordinary person. 
He was glum because he knew that the money 
that was behind him would be more ready to help 
him if he kept the secret closely guarded. 

“ What port do you sail to? ” the skipper ask- 
ed. He spoke with a better accent; his words 


II4 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

were well chosen and the sentences more gram- 
matical. 

“ Heading for the port of , as straight 

as the Jonna will sail. You don’t like the thought 
of going to prison, do you? It ain’t a pleasant 
prospect ; in for murder. Why have you changed 
your manner of speech? You did not deceive 
me; perhaps you deceived others; who are you, 
anyway? ” 

No answer was vouchsafed to these questions. 
The thick lips were more tightly drawn, the scowl 
on his face was ferocious as he turned on his side 
and remained silent. 

Twice MacKenzie placed his hand upon the 
lapel of his jacket. The sight of the silver star 
would, perhaps, have opened the lips of the skip- 
per, but a better idea came to him. Thomp- 
son was working out the case in his own way. 
A mistake now would put the guilty persons on 
their guard and hinder the course of events. For 
this reason he kept his identity concealed not 
only from the prisoners but also from the crew. 

Red Ned touched his cap with his left hand, 
and with his right pointed off to the left in the 
direction of land. Two days’ sail with such a 
breeze will send the Jonna to the shore where 
your friend was landed.” 

** Does the skipper know where we are 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. II5 

bound? ” The detective asked this for the reason 
that such information would be fatal to Harry 
and his case. 

“No wan that I ken.’^ 

“ Caution the lads. I cannot tell you the rea- 
son now; when we get to port you will under- 
stand my desire for caution.” 

The anchor paid out the cable with a grating 
sound; the headland was just ahead. The deso- 
late waste of ice fields that stretched as far north 
as the vision could reach made MacKenzie shiver. 
He came prepared for the emergency. 

A hundred busy thoughts came to him like a 
flash as he turned to Red Ned and said: “ If I 
do not return in five days, sail for Julianehaab. 
There is a missionary station there. Hand these 
papers to the consul. He will send a guard to the 
ship and relieve you of the prisoners, and also 
give you authority to take the ship back to 


“About the pay, sir; how about that?” 

“ I have also made arrangements for that. 
Keep the ship in motion and come for me in five 
days.” 

A detail from the Jonna tramped on the deso- 
late land where flaws and fissures made the search 
difficult. They found the carcass of a young polar 
bear with slashes of meat cut from its body. 


Il6 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

From this point he pushed forward alone. For 
two days he wandered here and there, gliding 
along on his snow shoes and feeling his way with 
a pole. The ruins of an ingelow plainly indicat- 
ed that his friend had fallen in with a tribe of 
Esquimaux. 

An old spyglass from the Jonna was an aid 
that his thoughtfulness provided; with its aid 
he avoided the danger of that search. He skirt- 
ed the ridges that were so deceptive and kept a 
sharp lookout for herds of reindeer. The sev- 
enth day, by the extreme range of the ship’s 
glass, he discovered a large bunch that were head- 
ing towards him. 

The wind was blowing in the direction of the 
game, which caused a stampede. He was not 
discouraged. Sooner or later, a tribe of natives 
would trail them. “ What luck ! ” he exclaimed. 
“ Either the wolves have scented the game, or 
aid is in sight. I see a great commotion; they 
are coming this way.” He unslung his repeating 
rifle and laid flat in the snow. As the herd swept 
by him he fired with deliberate aim and brought 
down as noble a specimen as ever backed his 
horns. He sat on the body and waited for the 
hunters to approach. The sharp frosty air had a 
hundred echoes as it drifted to him. The snarl- 
ing and barking of the Esquimaux dogs, the keen 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


II7 

swish and crack of the long lashes of the short 
handled whips, the shouting of the natives as they 
came dashing up to him in a run, was his reward 
for all of the dangers and hardships he had so 
bravely borne. 

He tried to make them understand that he was 
searching for a white man that had been put 
ashore some miles up the coast. A great joy 
came to him as they made him understand by 
signs that there was a stranger in their settle- 
ment. The carcass of the reindeer was lashed to 
one of the sledges. Upon this MacKenzie seated 
himself, and men, dogs and sledges glided over 
the ice and snow with great smoothness and even- 
ness. 

The settlement was a day’s journey to the 
north. The barking of the dogs that remained at 
home, the screaming of the women and children 
as they rushed forward to meet the hunters, was 
a welcome that stirred the detective’s heart. 


I 


CHAPTER VIIL 

THOMPSON RESCUED. 

MacKenzie crawled on his hands and knees 
through the opening of the ingelow, which was a 
hemisphere of solid ice with an opening in the 
top, the only outlet for the smoke that was some- 
times stifling. The interior was oppressively 
warm. The females were stripped to the waist, 
the children were naked. 

He did not recognize Thompson, whose eyes 
were sore, whose face was dirty and unshaven. 
The seal-skin clothing that covered his body was 
partially removed. 

‘‘ Tl^is is Thompson,” he said, “ the long lost 
friend that befriended me once when we were 
shipwrecked in the tropics.” 

He did not disturb the drowsy man. While 
he was waiting for the surprise that might de- 
throne reason, he drew from his pocket string af- 
ter string of bright colored glass beads and plac- 
ed them around the necks of the females, young ^ 
and old. The same love of adornment manifest- 




THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. II9 

ed itself in these far away natives of Greenland, 
whose joyous antics were ludicrous. Repeatedly 
they kissed his hands, and in a dozen of ways 
indicated their appreciation of his kindness. 

At length Mr. Thompson awoke; the shout- 
ing aroused him. With a fixed stare he gazed 
at the stranger and said : ‘‘ In God’s name, who 

are you that addresses me in my native tongue? ” 

“ Is it indeed you, my old friend Mac ; and 
you came to find me? You risked your life in 
this land of desolation and ice for me?” 

Tears were trickling down his cheeks as he 
said this. In an odd, affectionate way he grasped 
MacKenzie’s hand in both of his, and stroked it 
gently downwards. All the while he stared in a 
frightened manner, as if he expected the appari- 
tion to vanish like a dream. 

“ Thompson, cheer up ; we will be away from 
here by the day after to-morrow. The ship is 

waiting to take you back to , where your 

presence is urgently needed. I could not follow 
the thread of your investigation, although I had 
the directions and the papers you left.” 

“ I could not tell you more because a great 
mystery is behind it all. Be patient; you shall 
know the full circumstances when the proper time 
arrives.” 


120 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


And Harry, what of him ? ’’ Thompson 
eagerly inquired. 

“ Still in prison, awaiting your return. Tell 
me how you came to this iceland; by fair means 
or by foul means? ” 

“ The night of Harry’s arrest I walked to Pier 
No. — with the hope of receiving a letter from 
England. The vessel was already overdue. As 
she had not arrived I strolled up to ‘ Sign of The 
Arrow,’ to take a stiff Scotch. I hardly reached 
the saloon when a blow on my head knocked me 
senseless. When I recovered my wits I was 
aboard the Jonna, bound for the Arctic regions. 
The skipper treated me brutally. Through the 
pluck of the crew my life was spared. I was 
sent ashore to perish with the cold. I met some 
Esquimaux hunters who have treated me with 
great kindness.” 

“I shipped on the Jonna. Your enemy, and 
the two mates, are in irons in the bulkhead for- 
ward. The ship will be off shore in three days 
from this time. The punishment of the brutes 
is your privilege.” 

“ Not on your life, my friend. When I re- 
turn to the city, remember I am to all intents and 
purposes dead. I can work with a freer hand be- 
cause they feel that I am out of the way. It is 
the hardest case I ever had in my life, because 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


I2I 


there is money behind the villains we wish to run 
down.” A huskiness came to his voice as he 
asked news of Madge. “ Tell me, Mac, is she all 
right? I mean, how did she stand the strain of 
that meeting? ” 

“ I read in the papers that she was not in her 
right mind.” 

“ Not in her right mind? ” Thompson wearily 
exclaimed. “ Do you mean to say that her mind 
is entirely deranged?” 

“ I only know what the papers have printed.” 
Again the words of the rescuer were repeated: 
“ Come ! come ! this will never do ; your mind is 
wandering, my friend. You will need all of the 
sense you were born with, and then you will not 
have enough. There is Harry in prison, Madge 
in the asylum, and yourself in a god-forsaken 
country. How the scoundrels did you up. You 
must save your reputation or the agency will dis- 
charge you.” 

“ I was the cause of Harry’s misfortune.” 
He said this in a slow, mournful way that was 
distressing. He set his teeth hard, arose, and 
beckoned Mac to follow. The icy air outside of 
the ingelow recalled Thompson’s wandering 
thoughts. “We will go at once.” He spoke in 
a dazed way and drew his hand slowly across his 
forehead. 

“ Not until day after to-morrow. The Jonna 


122 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

is cruising around for a catch of blubber. You 
will feel better when morning dawns. Confound 
this part of earth’s surface. Now that I re- 
flect, there is no morning to dawn at this season 
of the year.” It was a strange sight to see these 
two men out in the frosty air surrounded by 
glittering fields of ice, lighted by a background 
of electrical discharges. The long streamers that 
shot upward faded into a waving curtain of green, 
while the constellations far to the southward 
glowed with jeweled brilliancy. 

The third day, the sledges with their long line 
of dogs that were harnessed by pairs, moved 
swiftly to north northwest. The pocket compass 
that Mac possessed caused them to move with 
great expedition. The seventh day the voyagers 
sighted the headland. No vessel was in sight. 
‘‘ It cannot be that I have miscalculated my reck- 
oning. Perhaps the three prisoners have bribed 
the guards and secured control of the craft.” 

“ Do not give up, Thompson. I did not se- 
cure the glass beads without a purpose. We will 
push forward to Julianehaab. It is only four 
days’ journey from here.” They made their wish- 
es known to the obliging Esquimaux. Fortunate- 
ly game was plentiful and the well-fed dogs per- 
formed the task without hardships. The excited 
detectives swept the harbor of the village with the 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. I23 

powerful ship glass. The Jonna was not among 
the vessels that rode at anchor in port. 

A shout of gladness from the two English- 
men made a score of echoes from the ice-bound 
cliffs. An American ship was in the offing, ready 
to sail. Every breeze that straightened the folds 
of the stars and stripes was a promise of speedy 
deliverance. The consul signaled to the “ Wave ” 
for a boat. The transfer of the mariners was 
speedily accomplished. With a great sigh of re- 
lief they watched the inhospitable shores sink low 
and lower behind the horizon. 

No contrary winds, or short, chopping seas 
delayed their homeward-bound trip. They reach- 
ed by a railroad train from Maine, and 

sought the sleeping rooms of the unfortunate ac- 
countant, where the^ effects of Thompson were 
stored. 

“ Mac, we must make no mistakes this time. 
It is necessary that we should report to the agency 
and renew our authority; otherwise what we do 
will not be worth a baubee. You report first, 
then I will follow. Our enemies will be quick to 
discover any changes in the force. As I said be- 
fore, no mistakes this time. It was through some 
crookedness in our force that I was betrayed; I 
am sure of it, because I can put my finger on the 
man that was listening to the report that I was 


124 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

making to the chief. Through this renegade will 
I trace the trouble to its source.” 

“ Gad, Thompson, that is not a bad idea. I 
see it all. While you were watching your game 
one of the force was watching you. I think it is 
better to let me report you as present, so keep 
shady. They do not know that I know you; so 
much the better. While you are to the front I 
will guard the rear.” 

While this conversation was absorbing the at- 
tention of the detectives, a key was turned in the 
lock and Claud, the young attorney, entered. 
He stared at the weather-beaten seamen like one 
in a dream. “ Can it be possible that you are the 
detectives that promised so much and performed 
so little? Harry is still in jail. His very name is 
almost forgotten, so many startling events have 
occured since you left.” 

“ Cool down, my young sprig of the law. 
Foul play made us the victims of a damnable plot 
to do away with us.” 

Thompson gave Claud a brief sketch of the ad- 
venture and cautioned the barrister to use a dis- 
creet silence in regard to the course of events. 
“ Harry will be so relieved when I tell him how 
matters stand! Poor bov! he feels so friendless 
and deserted! It most broke his heart to think 
that you had left him to his fate when he was 
following your directions.” 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. I25 

“ Has Harry given you an account of his 
night’s adventure ? ” Thompson asked. He had 
important reasons for the inquiry. “ How could 
a young girl have the strength to commit such a 
terrible murder? There was a struggle. If the 
stranger had committed suicide, how did he get 
possession of the accountant’s knife? If he had 
been killed, more than one person was accessory 
to the deed.” 

“ I have been in close touch with Harry since 
his incarceration. Not one word have I heard 
from his lips. His summer-day friends have all 
deserted him. I tried to get him out on bail, but 
the Judge ruled that it was not a bailable offence. 
I have done everything that it was possible to do 
under the circumstances. I had no money and 
I had no one with influence to move the wheels 
of justice.” 

“ The Judge who is to try the case is a close 
friend of Blanche’s father,” Thompson argued. 
“ I saw this piece of information in the papers 
that I read on shipboard, after I was sandbagged 
at the grog-shop, near the head of Pier No. — .” 

“ Upon what lines are you going to continue 
the investigation? ” Claud asked. “ I want to be 
useful in some way; since I am never to make my 
maiden speech as a lawyer, I will give up the prac- 
tice and ask to be enrolled in the agency.” 

“ The first thing to be done is to get our 


126 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

young friend out of the prison. The next thing 
to be done is to reinstate him in his old position. 
He can be of service to me, but he must not know 
that we are using him for detective purposes. 
His fine sense of honor would rebel and ruin our 
best efforts.” 

“ You do not mean to intimate that Blanche’s 
father had anything to do with this miserable af- 
fair? My God! it would break his daughter’s 
heart. She goes to the prison regularly to see 
Harry. The foolish fellow seems to be indiffer- 
ent to the adoration of this noble woman.” 

A feeling of intense relief overpowered Mr. 
Thompson at this innocent piece of gossip. With 
a silent “ amen ! ” he continued : “ In less than 

a week I will have the boy at his desk. The du- 
ties will change the current of his sad, and, I am 
sorry to add, sensitive thoughts.” 

“ You have not answered my question, Mr. 
Thompson. The gentleman that you suspect is 
one of the leading merchants of the city. Be 
careful how you act in this matter. It is bad 
enough to implicate Harry. Do not drag the 
sweet name of the daughter into the mire of scan- 
dal. You know what this means; a manifolding 
process that never gives back to the individual 
what has been filched from the honor of a good 
name.” 

“ Claud, do not be sentimental where Harry’s 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


127 


life is conc'erned. Go to Mr. ’s office, to- 

morrow, at three o’clock. Ask him to use his 
influence in a way that will change the opinion of 
his friend, the Judge. I will be seated near to 
you. Do not pay any attention to me. Plead 
with the senior member of the firm. If he still 
refuses, pretend that you are in a position to have 
him arrested for a crime that will send him to the 
penitentiary. Do this, and consider it your first 
lesson as a detective.” 

“ You ask me to do such a thing as that when 
the hospitality of the house has been mine for 
years? Then, there is Blanche. How could I 
look the dear girl in the face? If her father 
should be guilty, how could I break her heart by 
telling her what I should conceal from her.” 

“ Then you refuse to save Harry’s life. No 
one but yourself can get this justice done. To 
the friend you say you love I am sorry you feel 
as you do about it, for all dep'Cnds upon your 

tact in this matter. Mr. will, perhaps, do 

this without a threat, through the influence of 
his only child. Harry has been there too long 
already. Had I been here one year ago, to-day, 
he would have had his freedom long ago.” 

“ I will do as you wish, Thompson, although 
it goes against the grain to betray the rights of 
hospitality.” 

‘‘ Make the threat with due caution ; rather 


128 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

do SO by hinting. Look cautiously around and 
observe the change in the expression of his counte- 
nance. I will be reading a newspaper. To-mor- 
row at three, remember.” 

When the steps of the conscientious attorney 
no longer sounded on the stairway, the detective, 
by the use of dyes and a false wig, changed his 
appearance so completely that MacKenzie was 
puzzled to identify the rough-weather sailor that 
was to all intents and purposes dead to the rogues 
that he was to mingle with again. His beard 

had grown to a suitable length. Madam V 

could neither pull it with a savageness that was 
painful, nor accuse him of swearing falsely by his 
beard. A pair of foreign-looking specs com- 
pleted the disguise. 

A puzzled expression spread slowly over his 
face as he stood at the entrance of his former 
boarding house. “How is this?” he said. 
“ When I was here the place had a tumble-down 
appearance. The iron railing of the balcony has 
a fresh coat of paint and the entire front has been 
repaired and painted ; new shutters, new locks. 

I will press this electrical button and the Madam 
will do the rest; so here goes.” 

A house-keeper asked him to be seated in a 
handsomely appointed parlor. “ Fortune has 
smiled upon my ancient enemy,” he said. “ Per- 
haps the smile is a little shady. I hear the rustle 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 12g 

of silk.” He gazed curiously at the elegantly- 
robed dame that swept into the parlor with an in- 
dependent air that plainly betokened a surcease 
from harrowing bill collectors. His former 
neighbors at the table with their ravenous appe- 
tites (no doubt caused by sundry long miles of 
energetic exercise) were replaced by a better class 
of boarders, whose purses were deeper, whose ap- 
petites were more capricious. Curiously enough 
the Madam asked him for no reference. The 
charges were exorbitant; the business air that 
stated the terms made any objection worthless. 

“ She believes that I am dead. She knows 
that Madge is in the asylum. A knowledge of these 
surmises has wrought a wonderful change in this 
heartless creature. As she is an heir through di- 
rect descent, it becomes my duty to learn whence 
this lavish display of wealth.” 

A trim-looking servant showed him to his 
room that was luxuriously furnished. There was 
but one entrance to the apartment, a circum- 
stance that pleased the detective. One key was 
an opening too man}^ Surrounded as he was by 
danger, the recollection of the manner in which 
he had been outwitted together with the savage 
treatment that had been unjustly dealt to him 
made him cautious. Three days of association in 
his quarters plainly indicated that the Madam 
was suspicious. His mechanical drawings, his 


130 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE, 

microscope, his mathematical instruments, re- 
minded her of the detective that “ pumped her 
dry,” as she expressed it. 

The following morning, Mr. Thompson 
through courtesy excused himself when the meal 
was half finished. He had his reason for doing 
so. The wily Madam would be unable to make 
detectives of her servants. Her personal super- 
vision was a duty that she never neglected. With 
carefulness he noted the number of white-aproned 
waiters that glided around the well-served table 
like so many automatons. It was a matter of 
precaution with the detective ; a matter that would 
place the winning cards in his hands. The silver 
tips that he placed beneath his plate, two or three 
times a week, oiled the hinges of the door of con- 
science and placed at his disposal the services of 
the shrewdest serving-man of the set. 

Mr. Thompson was always looking for a letter 
that never came. He generally managed to in- 
tercept the mail that the postman brought to the 
door. He did it in such a way that the Madam 
did not suspect that the meek-looking professor 
was keeping a sharp eye on her correspondence ; 
neither did she observe sundry pencil markings in 
his memorandum book which he always carried in 
his inside vest pocket. Thus all of the letters with 
a foreign postmark came under his personal in- 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 13I 

spection through the adroitness of the man he 
bribed. 

“ Some of these letters have been received by- 
other persons,” the detective muttered. “ The 
handwriting is wonderfully like the handwriting 
of old Greenbags, who re-mailed to this street 
and number the enclosures that plainly indicate 
the source from which came the suddenly-acquir- 
ed competency. He dared all the dangers of dis- 
covery so far as the superscription was concerned. 
Further he could not venture without infringing 
on the limits of discretion.” 

The Madam was too shrewd to let a single 
item of evidence fall into the hands of any board- 
er. Her cabinet desk was fitted with the finest 
Yale tumbler locks. The detective was placed 
in an embarrassing position. He could not arouse 
the faintest trace of suspicion in this woman, who 
had so cleverly trapped him in his first detective 
work. He was not ready to reach a criminal 
climax, because he was anxious to trail her ac- 
complices and ascertain the whereabouts of 
Madge. If he proceeded too fast, the game 
would be flushed, the birds would scatter, and the 
toil of the year be a derision at the agency. 

With his usual dreamy appearance he went 
at once to the lawyer’s office and found a placard 
on the door: “ This suit of rooms to rent on rea- 
sonable terms.” “ I suspected as much,” he said, 


132 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


as he placed his hand on the knob. The door 
was not locked; he passed through the hall into 
the first room where the odor of leather-bound 
law books permeated the atmosphere. 

“ Old Greenbags has moved recently,” solilo- 
quized Thompson. “ The musty smell of legal 
lore still lingers to make intuition a certainty. 
This unlawful money has come to them within 
the limits of a month. I trust that I shall find 
in this pile of trash some evidence that will con- 
nect the Madam with this unprincipled shark 
whose time is always wealth.” 

With deliberation he drew to his side an empty 
box, stretched out his legs to their full length, 
as he seated himself, and with methodical pa- 
tience matched the scattered bits of paper. 

“ The old sinner ! ” he exclaimed with some 
warmth. “ I have matched these five pieces of 
paper and discover parts of an address. That 
may be useful to the case in hand.” With an ex- 
perience that years of practice had matured he 
notched the strips and deposited the result in his 
pocketbook. 

“ There is no mention made of the Madam. 
This astonishes me. I thought I would glean 
something from this pile of debris; the letters 
were too valuable to destroy.” 


CHAPTER IX. 


SHADOWS THE MERCHANT. 

He did not return to the boarding house but 
passed in an opposite direction to the office of 

. It was three, sharp. Claud had just 

entered and was seated at the elbow of the senior 
partner, whose mind at that particular time was 
intent upon the letter he was writing. 

‘‘ How do you do, Claud ; excuse my abrupt- 
ness. I was very busy with some correspondence 
that should go by the five o’clock mail. How 
can I serve you? ” 

“ I called to see you about Harry. The poor 
boy has been in prison for more than one year. 
You must do something to get him out on bail.” 

“Must, did you say; must! A very harsh 
word to use when you wish, to ask for a favor, 
Claud. Plarry has been in my employ for a num- 
ber of years. A more faithful clerk I never em- 
ployed. He ran with a fast set and it proved to 
be his ruin. Am I my brother’s keeper? ” 

“ In one sense of the expression you are your 
brother’s keeper. It will cost you nothing to go 


134 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


on Harry’s bond. You know him well enough 
to feel that you are running no risk. At the same 
time your former accountant will enjoy the liberty 
that your generosity vouchsafes.” 

“ I cannot and will not go on his bond. You 
confounded lawyers are always hatching some 
mischief; let the law take its course.” 

“ Mr. , I say that you will go on this 

bond. You must know that my friend never com- 
mitted that murder.” 

“ Claud, you use the word must again. It has 
a very unpleasant flavor for me. You must never 
come to my house again. You see I can use the 
word also, and in a way that means something.” 

“ Mr. , you know that Harry never 

murdered that stranger. I dare you to deny the 
charge. If you refuse my request you will take 
the consequences. You turn pale; guilt speaks 
in every look and action.” 

The young lawyer did not notice the foreign- 
looking gentleman that was examining the speci- 
mens of American advertising. Real works of 
art they were that adorned the frescoed walls of 
this firm. The stinging words of the senior mem- 
ber of the firm angered the attorney, consequently 
he spoke with more bitterness than he intended. 

“ What do you say, Mr. Claud anx- 

iously asked; “ what do you say? Think well be- 
fore you decline.” 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


135 

The business man’s manner changed to a sul- 
lenness that neither admitted guilt or denied it. 
He felt that this young man had either bluffed him, 
or had in his possession evidence that would be 
damaging. “ How much will the bond be, 
Claud?” 

“ About ten thousand dollars. The offence is 
not really bailable. Through the influence of the 
Judge, who is a personal friend of yours, the act 
can be set aside. I am not unreasonable. Har- 
ry has been shamefully treated. It is an act of 
simple justice that is due to him.” 

“ A pretty stiff amount, young man ; give me 
time to think of it. You came so suddenly upon 
me that you startled me. Come, to-morrow, at 
five p. m. Do not speak to anyone in regard to 
this affair. Forgive my rudeness and call as you 
have called before; you will be welcome.” 

When Claud quitted the office he did not know 
that Mr. Thompson was at his heels just like a pa- 
tient dog. The ugly scowl of one of the owners 
of the Jonna did not escape the vigilant eyes of 
the detective. I have gotten this young limb 
of the law into trouble and Thompson is the one 
to get him out.” Wherever Claud went Thomp- 
son was close behind him, yet this shadowing was 
so skillfully executed that the young man whistled 
an opera air as he went in the direction of 


136 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

street, and entered the spacious grounds of the 
before-mentioned merchant prince. 

Winter was melting into spring. Blanche 
was sitting alone on one of the rustic seats. The 
lightness of her spring attire attracted the atten- 
tion of the visitor. Without making his presence 
known at the house he seated himself by the side 
of the maiden. 

“ Good evening, Claud ; I am glad that you 
have come. I hold a letter in my hand from Har- 
ry. He pleads with me to use my influence with 
father. I have done so a hundred times and I 
have been refused just as many times. Father 
has changed since that awful night that has made 
us all so unhappy. He cannot bear to hear Har- 
ry’s name mentioned in his presence; what can I 
do?” 

“ You are an angel, Blanche. If you loved 
me as much as you love Harry I would be the 
happiest man in the world. I have been thinking 

the matter over. You know Judge ; you 

are a favorite of his. I believe if you went to him 
and plead earnestly that he would waive the bond 
for appearance at court.” 

“ I will have father with me. Claud, why did 
you not think of this before now? I will speak 
to him this very night.” 

“ There you go, Blanche ; you will spoil my 
best efforts. I called on your parent, this after- 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. I37 

noon. He was unwilling to do anything for the 
prisoner, so do not speak of the matter until we 
see what has been accomplished.” He could not 
impart to her his horrible suspicions and add sor- 
row to sorrow. He could not tell her what the 
detective had surmised. “ Will you promise me, 
Blanche? That is a good girl.” 

“ Blanche, promise me that you will not go 
to the prison to see Harry so much. If your 
father knew as much as I know he would send 
you away. The scandal-mongers will be busy 
with your good name.” 

“ You are jealous, Claud. What do I care for 
what the world says? So long as he is in prison 
just so long will I go to see him, whether father 
likes it or not.” 

“ Bravely spoken ! I wish your father had half 
of the sterling qualities that you possess. Then 
Harry would never be where he is. Don’t tell 
your papa that I have been here.” 

“ Why do you ask such a question ? Are you 
afraid to speak out? You have acted so strange- 
ly, this evening, Claud.” 

Claud noticed that his companion was observ- 
ing him with the closest scrutiny. There was 
something in the puzzled expression that was 
pathetic. For the first time a dim shadow of a 
suspicion that haunted her for days came like a 
ghost to trouble her thoughts. Fully ten min- 


138 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

utes passed. The brave girl was making some 
mental resolution that she did not disclose. With 
a vague good-night she abruptly walked to the 
house and left the young lawyer to meditate upon 
the strangeness of Blanche’s movements. 

“ I feel like kicking myself,” the only occupant 
of the grounds remarked. “ I have made a pret- 
ty mess of this business. How these troubles 
grow. You scare up one and a hundred come 
trooping to the hustings. Harry loves the mad 
girl, and Blanche loves Harry, and I love Blanche, 
and the Devil is to play generally. I will go 
home and soak my head ; perhaps it will be clearer 
in the morning.” 

He arose from his seat and moved lingeringly 
to the iron gateway. The massive posts were 
gloomy and tall. A slight blow from some blunt 
instrument dazed him for an instant. When his 
senses returned a vague recollection brought to 
his mind the onrush of a dark figure, a stroke 
that was parried, the quick retreat of assailant 
and rescuer. “What does it all mean? My 
head needs soaking, surely enough. I wonder 
who came to my assistance? It must have been 
Thompson, for no one else would have cared 
whether I was killed or not.” 

The detective that had been shadowing 
Claud never for one moment lost the devious 
windings of the wounded man. As he sought 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. I39 

the rooms that were paid for by Harry, a feeling 
of profound sympathy for the young lawyer made 
the tie between them doubly binding. Here is 
this unselfish soul struggling with a hopeless love, 
indirectly accusing the father of the girl of wrong- 
doing, and thereby antagonizing the only person 
in the world that could be of service in such an 
emergency. I will run down and see the brave 
lad in the morning. I am sure he is not badly 
injured. 

“ My conjectures were right. The assassin 
that tried to kill Claud was the detective that be- 
trayed me. He did not take the trouble to con- 
ceal the features of his ugly face. That was a 
terrible blow that this would-be murderer tried to 
deal to the unsuopecting victim. My arm is black 
and blue where the blow glanced. If the stroke 
had been direct, it would have broken my arm.” 

Claud is safely housed. I will betake my 
tired body to the Madam’s. It is not midnight 
by my time-piece,” Thompson whispered. “ The 
Madam taught me a wholesome lesson that I will 
not forget very soon. Fortunately she is so 
much absorbed with her frivolous amusements 
that she never gives me so much as a passing 
glance. She has not returned ; the night latch 
key is here where she always hides it. She is 
coming now; I hear the roll of carriage wheels 
on the street; they are two squares away. I will 


140 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


pass to the other side of the thoroughfare where 
I will be in the shadow of the tall building.” 

The coachman climbed down from his tall 
seat and opened the door for the handsomely-at- 
tired woman to alight. The gentleman that es- 
corted her did not assist her in any manner, but 
sat straight up in his seat out of the glare of the 
electric light. A slight wave of the hand from 

Madam V was acknowledged by a nod of 

her attendant. It was at this time that the de- 
tective caught a glimpse of the carefully-guarded 
features. It was the counterpart of Harry’s face ; 
the same one he saw at the oyster parlor, more 
than a year ago. 

“ Tim has been banished from my landlady’s 
service. I wonder what he has been doing for 
himself all of these months? There was no num- 
ber on the turnout; for this reason the privilege 
tax has not been paid. Plenty of work for you, 
Thompson; plenty of work.” 

When the detective turned the key in his lock 
he drew from his pocket the now famous book 
whose jottings were invaluable. He wrote a 
graphic description of the coachman, the style of 
the horses, the trappings and other minutia that 
would have escaped the attention of the passer- 
by. 

He did not wait for his breakfast but hastened 
to the bedside of Claud, who was snoring in a 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. I4I 

very healthy way. “ The boy is all right ; a bruise 
or two that a little liniment will heal. He must 
push this matter , of the appearance bond to the 
utmost limit. I want to see Harry back in his 
old place. He is going to be obstinate as a mule. 
Claud’s necessity will oblige Harry to accept the 
position. By these means I will get a clearer in- 
sight into the business of the firm.” 

“Hello, Claud! Have you been sparring for 
the light-weight championship? What have you 
been doing with yourself since I saw you? Lay- 
ing down the law to Moneybags, yesterday after- 
noon? ” 

“ Was that innocent-looking, half-sleepy for- 
eigner that was examining the walls so carefully 
really yourself ? ” 

“ A detective in his day plays many parts. 
Thus far I have been fortunate in escaping the 
argus eyes of villainy. The play is on the boards, 
and will be until all of this high-handed robbery 
is punished. I depend upon you, Claud; if we 
are successful name your fee and it will be quick- 
ly paid.” 

“ Pay, did you say pay, Mr. Thompson? No 
money can buy my friendship. I am sure you 
have a better opinion of me than that. It is 
true that I am financially in a strait. Times will 
improve with me. You know the old saying: 


142 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


' A long lane that has no turn.’ How did I get 
such a knock on my head ? ” 

“ I will tell you, Claud. A hired assassin 
did the dirty work. Your suspicions are con- 
firmed. I guarded your footsteps when you quit- 
ted the office of . It ran in my mind that 

you would be waylaid; you know the remainder. 

Go to Mr. and give him to understand 

that he is the perpetrator of the deed.” 

At five o’clock, the attorney presented his 
card to the senior member of the firm and was 
admitted to the private office of the merchant 
prince. This move disconcerted Claud. The 
presence of the detective strengthened his will 
power. “ A gentleman from the West,” was of- 
ficially announced. Claud gazed curiously at the 
fussy, little old man who was dressed in a drab 
suit and had a queer habit of adjusting his eye- 
glasses. 

“ Don’t stir, gentlemen. I arrived from the 
West, to-day, to buy goods. I can call again on 
the morrow. Ah ! here is the morning paper. 
I beg that you will not let me interrupt your con- 
versation.” 

The senior partner turned a shade paler as he 
noticed the scar on the brow of Claud. “ Lost 
; I see you met with an accident.” 

, I was felled to the earth at your 
gate. Strange is it not ? Someone in the vicin- 


your footing 
“ Mr. 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 1 43 

ity ran to the rescue and broke the force of the 
blow. Are you ready to make the bond ? I have 
it here drawn up in legal form.” 

“ I will tell you what I will do for Harry. If 

Mr. , who has an office in the Hall, 

will sign it with me it's a go ; otherwise I will not 
take such a risk.” 

“ You sign, then he will be sure to add his 
name also to the instrument. If I take it to him 
as it is, he will send me back to you. You have 
taken worse risks than this ; it will make you sleep 
better to know that Harry is out on bail.” 

“Who is your friend at the Hall? 

Has he the commercial standing? A first-class 
bond is what we want. Then the judge will not 
refuse the pleading.” Claud made a note of the 

address given him by Mr. , and tilted his 

chair backwards in a comfortable position. He 
scanned closely the careworn face that plainly in- 
dicated mental trouble. The restless eyes moved 
with quick precision from line to line. The in- 
strument was faultlessly drawn up. With a 
weary sigh he remarked: “You lawyers are a 
troublesome set of fellows. You live by the mis- 
fortunes of others. I suppose that I must sign 
here to get rid of you.” 

“ In this case, Mr. , you are only doing 

a simple act of justice. Your daughter, Blanche, 
will be more than pleased, as you must know she 


144 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


is devoted to Harry. His liberty will make them 
dear good friends.” 

“ Nothing more than friends is all Harry can 
expect. Girls must have a romantic turn or two 
before they settle down to the realities of living. 
It will wear out with the nursing. I will disown 
her; she shall be no child of mine if she disobeys 
my commands.” 

“Your commands! Why should you con- 
demn an innocent man for shielding a crime? 
All of the scoundrels are not in the clutches of the 
law. Some wear purple and fine linen and carry 
with them the mock sanctity of honesty.” 

The merchant looked hard at the lawyer. A 
great oath came to the lips of the rich man as 
he glared at Claud in a very uncomfortable way. 
The curses were never articulated ; some pru- 
dence softened the intention, for he slowly said; 
“ I do not know what your moralizing means. 
You should have been a preacher instead of an 
attorney. You have missed your calling. Here 
is your bond, now be off with you. I have been 
wasting my time with you and this obliging gen- 
tleman has been waiting for an hour. Why, he 
has gone; I declare, I never saw him go out of 
this office.” Both stared at the vacant seat. 
Claud was surprised at the suddenness of Thomp- 
son’s departure. The mystery was explained 
when he, the lawyer, walked into the office of the 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. I45 

city official and observed the detective examining 
some tax lists. 

“ What can I do for you, sir? ” came from be- 
hind a tall desk.” ‘‘Ah, is it you? Glad to see 
you, glad to see you. How can I serve you, my 
young friend? ” 

“ Perhaps you will not be so glad to see me 
when you know what business brings me here.” 

“ Nothing unreasonable, I hope. I am glad 
you are here. I was going to hunt you up my- 
self, for the reason that I will explain later. As 
I said before, anything in reason, Claud.” 

“ I want you to help me by signing this bond 
that I have drawn up. My friend, Harry Mon- 
teet, has been in prison a year; the authorities 
have postponed the trial from docket to docket; 
it is a shame that such is the case. We will get 
him out on bail.” 

“ A year is a small matter. I should think 
the prisoner who is to be tried for his life would 
be the last person to object. To tell you the 
truth, I heard Mr. say that they were go- 

ing to enter a nolle prosequi in the case. In 
such an event, there would be no necessity for 
giving bond for his appearance.” 

“ And leave the disgrace to follow him through 
life? ” Claud sneered. “ I am sure they do not 
know Harry. He is innocent and he knows it ; 
he will demand a speedy trial. How Mr. 


146 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

has changed. I am just from his office; you see 
his signature here. I am willing that the wronged 
man should be out on bail. Never will I consent 
to a nolle prosequi.” 

“ If he is acquitted his good name will be tar- 
nished. The world will pull an honest name 
down; but you never hear of the world helping 
to restore to the victim that which he has lost.” 

“ Whose fault is it that such is the case ? Pub- 
lic opinion, you will say, and those who mould it ; 
but what is the use of moralizing. When did you 

see Mr. ? I am curious to know why he 

has made such a flop.” 

“ He has his own reasons ; you ask him, for 
I will never tell you.” 

“How much does the bond call for?” He 
took the bond in his hand. “ Ten thousand dol- 
lars. You must be crazy, Claud; I am not willing 
to sign for such an amount.” 

A second thought came to the official. 
“ Claud, you have a pull in your ward ; if you will 
use your influence for my re-election I will sign. 
There is small risk if Harry has not changed.” 

“ I did not know you knew Harry,” Claud ex- 
claimed in surprise. 

“ I have played billiards with him, I have 
touched glasses with him, I have eaten oyster 
stews with him at Madam’s establishment. I 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 1 4 / 

am sorry for the young man; for this reason I will 
sign the bond.” 

“Are you sure that it was Harry?” Claud 
queried. 

“ As sure as I can be of anything.” 

“ Do you know that Harry was never in the 
Madam’s establishment in his life, to my knowl- 
edge ? I ought to know, for we have been friends 
for five years. He has often given me a lift when 
I needed it most. If I can clear him it will be 
the proudest day of my life.” 

“ Then some one is cleverly personating your 
friend. Here is your bond. I declare, young 
man, you have completely upset my nerves. 
Come, let us take a drink ; I feel wretchedly about 
this affair.” 

Thompson followed closely on the footsteps of 
the lawyer who mounted the steps leading up to 
the rendezvous. When the door was closed the 
two men sat long in the twilight. The cheerful 
blaze flickered on the papered walls and lighted 
up two faces with different views of the situation. 

“ Claud, we must find out who this mysterious 
personage is that runs only at night. He had 
nothing to do with the murder; I am sure of this. 
Harry was standing over the dead man. It is 
this stranger that has given Harry such a bad 
reputation. He did not tell Claud of the chance 
meeting, or of his desire to get the young man’s 


148 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

address, or tell of the man in the st}dish turnout 
who escorted Madam V home, or the puz- 

zling connection of Harry with his landlady. It 
is better to keep these things from Claud; he is 
impulsive, too impulsive for me. 

“ I am sorry you said what you did about Har- 
ry and his absence from the Madam’s establish- 
ment. You let a bird go that time. You should 
have waited until the case came up in court. 
What a telling blow you would have delivered by 
producing this evidence.” 

“ Thompson, you are right ; I am a confounded 
ass.” 

“ You know what their line of action will be? 
They will dismiss the suit and your chance, the 
chance of your life, will slip through your fingers. 
I am building up evidence worth two of that, but 
I cannot trust you after such a break.” 

‘‘ What do you think of my plan to secure bail, 
Mr. Thompson?” 

Not worth a copper cent, Claud. The judge 
will tell you that it is not a bailable offence, unless 
the bondsmen go themselves and use their in- 
fluence. Take the girl along; I mean Blanche. 
It will place the judge in a better position. I am 
sure he will not refuse her gentle pleading.” 

“ Suppose that Blanche should refuse to do 
this act of kindness for Harry, what then? You 
will believe me when I tell you that her father 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


149 


would send her to Europe, or to some other out- 
of-the-way place, that would remove her from the 
influence that is making her prematurely aged.” 

“ In any event, you will have trouble. I mere- 
ly pointed out the speediest solution of the diffi- 
culty. Your bond is valueless for such a purpose. 
She has been to see Harry in prison alone a num- 
ber of times, so you tell me. Make the attempt 
and my word for it she will be more than willing 
to plead with the judge.” 

“Against her parent’s orders?” Claud re- 
joined. “ He does not know that she is visiting 
the jail. If I go prowling around the old gentle- 
man’s residence for the purpose of meeting 
Blanche, he will be glad enough to shoot me for 
a burglar; he has not much love for me anyway.” 

“ I will go with you, Claud. Between us we 
should have sense enough to communicate with 
the young lady. We dare not write a note; we 
do not want any such tell-tale evidence to pass 
into the hands of our bitter enemies.” 

“ Meet me to-morrow night, at eight o’clock, 
here. We will go by different streets to the place 
where your destiny and mine have an abiding 
home. I am particularly anxious to get Harry 
out of that hole. Then I will be able to take up 
another line of my work.” 

The following night the lawyer and the de- 
tective went their devious ways that converged 


150 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

at the iron gate where Claud received such a blow 
on the head. Thompson stepped from the shad- 
ow of the nearest tree and whispered : “ the coast 
is clear; no one is in the park. Move cautiously 
up to the side window and throw this small gravel 
at the French plate glass. I saw her moving 
about. The father is on the other side of the hall. 
I will keep an eye on his movements.” The noise 
of the pebble attracted Blanche’s attention. 
She hastily threw a wrap over her head and shoul- 
ders and joined Claud in the arbor. 

“ What have you to tell ; no bad news I hope, 
Claud ; is Harr}^ sick ? ” 

‘‘ He will be if he remains in prison another 
month. You have the chance to do him a good 
turn that he will not forget very soon. I have 
planned an interview for you that will not be un- 
maidenly, nor cast one breath of suspicion on your 
good name. It is in Harrys’ cause ; a noble cause 
it is.” 

“ What is the nature of this service? ” the girl 
eagerly inquired. 

“ At half past three, to-morrow afternoon, go 

to Judge C ’s office. I make the hour at 

half past three because you will be more likely to 
see the gentleman alone. Plead with him for 
Harry’s release from prison. I have the appear- 
ance bond signed; here it is. He will understand 
the nature of your appeal at once. For tender 


THOMPSON. THE DETECTIVE. I5I 

mercy's sake do not say anything to your father 
about going to the lawyer’s office, neither tell him 
of this bond.” 

“What must I say to him, Claud?” 

“ Just what your love for Harry will dictate. 
Then you will be together and you can arouse 
the boy who is grieving his life away.” What a 
pang of pain made the young lawyer’s face droop 
lower to hide in the shadows the traces of disap- 
pointment that brooded in his heart. 

“ I will do it ; on my soul I will do it. Some- 
thing tells me that my father has wronged him 
in some way, because papa is not the same man 
since Harry quitted his employ. He cannot bear 
for me to even speak of him in his presence. 
Something impels me to do this favor, for justice 
must be satisfied through me.” 

“ What a strange expression, Blanche. If 
you can persuade the Judge to set him free we 
will all be happier, eh? Is it not so? Then your 
papa will restore him to his old position. Would 
you be ashamed to be seen in his company? You 
know what a heartless creature the world is. 
His friends will be few enough, never fear.” 

“ I will only be too proud and happy to show 
how little I care for the world’s cruel censure. 
I will go in, Claud. The atmosphere has chilled 
me through and through; feel my hands.” 

“ Blanche, would that I could hold them thus 


152 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

forever. Harry is the luckiest boy in the world 
to possess such a grand, faithful love.’' He could 
not tell her of Harry’s affection for the poor, mad 
girl; no, no; why should he hurt her heart and 
thus do injustice to his friend? It would come 
soon enough. 

With a gentle good night they parted. Claud 
rejoined the detective at the gate. There was a 
smile on Thompson’s face as the lawyer approach- 
ed. Did I not tell you that the young lady 
would gladly help us to give Harry his free- 
dom?” 

“ Where is the appearance bond, my young 
friend? It will be safer with me; you are care- 
less, Claud.” 

“ I gave it to Blanche and gave her positive 
instructions to give it to no one. Did I do 
wrong ? ” 

“ I am sorry that you did not retain it. Sup- 
pose that she should be confronted when she re- 
turns to the house and her father should see the 
paper in her hand; all of your persuasion would 
amount to nothing.” 

will swear I have not a grain of sense,” 
Claud gasped. ‘‘ I will go back and ask her to 
return the paper.” 

“ Not on your life. Don’t you see the private 
watchman moving on the other side of the iron 
railing? We were exceedingly fortunate to es- 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. I53 

cape without detection. We will get away from 
here as fast as our legs can move us. You go 
one way and I will go the other way.” 

“ Stay, one word more,” whispered the law- 
yer. “ I will go with Blanche ; then there will 
be no failure. The Judge will issue the order 
of the court. Once in my possession I will fly 
to Harry’s relief and we will have him with us, 
to-night. Have the rooms looking cheerful.” 

“ I will do even better than that,” Thompson 
stammered. “ I will order a first-class dinner, 
to be served in the rooms; we three will be the 
jolliest fellows alive.” 

“ Providing always that the Judge issues the 
order.” 

“ I have no fears on this score, Claud. The 
Judge has already made up his mind. The guilty 
persons feel that the ground upon which they 
stand is slipping from under them. But I do 
not want Harry to give in an inch. It would look 
like begging the question. The Judge will only 
be too glad to grant her petition. I have sworn 
that a great injustice shall be righted, and by the 
living God it shall be righted.” 


CHAPTER X. 


Harry’s release. 

The following day Claud waited at the Cen- 
tral Park gate for Blanche. He watched the 
stream of humanity that passed by him in the 
eager rush for gold and mammon. The future 
was the goal, the past had left its sting, and the 
present was a car to crush beneath its grinding 
wheels the hopes of yesterday. 

A closely-veiled lady approached and in a low 
tone of voice said : “ Claud, have you waited long 

for me? ” 

“ Not very long,” Claud replied. “ Is it not 
a blessed thing that mind is the exclusive proper- 
ty of self, otherwise what a strange world this 
would be — what a judgment life would be on life ; 
individuality would be a nonentity.” 

“ Come on; this is no place to moralize* when 
so much is to be done. You can tell me of this 
freak, later; it will keep.” 

‘‘I am sure of it, Blanche.” Then he men- 
tally relapsed into his train of thought. “ I am 
glad that this poor girl at my side has no such 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. I55 

power. She has one of those high-strung na- 
tures that cannot stand the double-sidedness of 
human nature. It is well her father’s thoughts 
never stray beyond the thin walls of bone.” 

“ What are you dreaming about, Claud? We 
have passed the Judge’s office. It must be two 
blocks back, if I remember correctly. Wake up 
and keep your wits about you.” 

The couple retraced their steps and mounted 
the iron stairway that led to the office they were 
looking for. The Judge was unusually polite as 
he arose with alacrity and placed seats for the 
visitors. 

“ What can I do for you, young man, and what 
can I do for you, young woman? Do you wish 
me to perform the matrimonial rites in a legal 
sense? ” 

“ O, Judge,” the girl replied, “ we are here for 
the purpose of expediting Harry’s release from 
prison.” 

“ Who is Harry ? and what has he been do- 
ing? So much comes up in a judicial way that it 
taxes my memory to remember just what you 
mean.” 

While his Honor was explaining his position, 
Claud was eyeing him with a steadfastness that 
must have been noticed. Fortunately, his face 
was turned to Blanche. ‘‘ Thompson is a won- 
derful man. How he finds all these things out 


156 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

is beyond my comprehension. The very papers 
in the case are before him now. I have handled 
them enough to know them when I see them. He 
will pose as a benefactor, and make Blanche be- 
lieve that it is entirely on her account that he is 
extending the limits of the law in Harry’s case.” 

“ Claud, why do you not say something? You 
can explain what we want so much better than 
I can.” 

“ You have said all that can be said, Blanche; 
what can I say more? The Judge remembers the 
case that has been continued for three terms of 
the court. The prisoner has been incarcerated 
for more than a year. We come. Judge, to plead 
his case. It must appeal to your sense of justice 
and magnanimity. He should have a trial, or he 
should be released on a hrst-class bond.” 

“Yes! yes! I recall the circumstances very 
clearly. A terrible murder ! An aggravated 
case! Mistress in a mad house! There, there. 
Miss Blanche; I am sorry that you feel so badly 
about it. You know in the law we must call a 
spade a spade.” 

Claud cursed the Judge in his heart because 
he had kept from Blanche the details of the re- 
port. He did not inform her that Harry was 
accused by the papers of having a mistress. He 
knew how false the report was because Harry 
had not seen his playmate since she was a child. 


I 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 157 

That she should be his mistress was a horrible 
thought — a thought that would make Blanche 
a misanthrope. My loyalty to Harry shall never 
cause me to take advantage of the slander, to 
further my own ends. 

“ Claud, come, we will go. I do not feel so 
well. There is a heaviness here that almost 
takes my breath ; give me a glass of water, 
please.” 

“ Blanche, I thought you knew Harry better 
than you do. There is not one word of truth in 
this base lie. The girl was his schoolmate, and 
came to the city to seek employment. She did 
not know his address. He never met her until 
that terrible night.” 

The Judge interrupted him by stating “ that 
the facts in the case were against Harry because 
competent witnesses saw them together at that 
time.” 

“ Blanche, do not mind the Judge; he has been 
on the bench so long that his finer senses of hu- 
manity have been blunted. I am glad that I 
adopted the civil side of law. Grinding out jus- 
tice day after day gives to those who have any- 
thing to do with criminal practice a bias that often 
militates against the teachings of mercy.” 

You are right, Claud,” the Judge exclaimed ; 
quite right, my boy. I honor you for speaking 
out as you have done. Harry shall go free. 


158 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

Some evidence has come to light that places a 
very different status on the case. I have about 
made up my mind to enter a nolle prosequi and 
this will end the trouble.” 

“ Judge,” the young lawyer solemnly replied, 
“ will this order of the court give him back his 
good name? Do not do this; let him have his 
trial and you will at least do him the justice to 
let the country know it through the papers.” 

“ Ah ! Claud, you will lose the chance of 
winning your spurs. That is what is troubling 
you.” The Judge laughed as he said this and 
waited for his appellant to reply. . 

‘‘You mistake. Judge. I do not care a cop- 
per for the legal spurs. All I want in this mat- 
ter is justice for Harry. Write out an order and 
have it vised by the clerk of the court. I will take 
it to the clerk myself ; by dark we will have the 
prisoner out on bail.” 

The Judge read the bond for appearance in a 
critical manner. “ This document has been care- 
fully drawn up ; all of the legal technicalities have 
been inserted.” When his glances rested upon 
the signers of the paper, a look of surprise settled 
upon the rugged features. He could not deceive 
the keen eyes of the young lawyer who made only 
the simple remark : 

“ You see what a good bond I have furnished. 
You cannot refuse me this request on Blanche’s 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. I59 

account; you are a friend of her father and have 
known my companion since she was a little girl/' 

“Very well! Here is the order that you can 
show to my clerk. He will make the document 
legally correct. Bless my soul, the sun is almost 
down and all of this work to do. A. good day to 
you, Miss Blanche." He dismissed Claud with a 
formal nod; somehow he felt that the young law- 
yer had outwitted him and made him appear small 
before the lady. The dignity of his ermine was 
ruffled, as he muttered : “ my friends do not know 
their own minds. It is by their request that I 
am going to dismiss the suit, and on top of this 
they furnish an appearance bond. Well! well! 
The election is almost here. I will need them 
to further my plans; let it go.” 

When Blanche and Claud were well out of the 
Judge’s sanctum they pressed each other’s hands 
in a sympathetic way that was more eloquent than 
words. “Not too long, Claud; you hurt my 
hand. These rings have made deep indentations, 
as you can see. Ah ! but you did plead nobly for 
our friend in misfortune. You are the salt of the 
earth, Claud; bring Harry to the house; what a 
happy night we will spend." 

“ You forget that your father is a bitter enemy 
of both. It would make the situation anything 
but pleasant for all concerned." 


l60 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


“ How am I to meet Harry, then, if he cannot 


come to the house?’’ 

“ Ah ! Blanche, how can I tell you what is 
best to be done? You and my chum must settle 
•it in your own way. Here you are within three 
squares of home. I must leave you and hurry to 
the court-house. Not a word of this to your 
father.” 

As he passed from sight he sighed deeply: 
‘‘ Poor Blanche ! Harry has never deceived her, 
and yet she fondly believes that he loves her. I 
do not see how he can help transferring his af- 
fection to the girl that is as true as steel. If the 
mad girl is really mad so much the better for 


Blanche.” 

The work of making the document legally per- 
fect was accomplished without any unnecessary 
delay. A feeling of pride and exultation filled 
the breast of Claud, as he showed his authority, 
and with his own hands struck off the irons that 
bound Harry’s ankles and wrists, and hurried him 
along the gloomy corridors to the entrance, where 
a carriage was waiting to convey him to the com- 
forts of his own apartments. What a handshak- 
ing there was as the three friends gathered around 
the table that was spread with tempting dishes. 
The wine went merrily around. Thompson noted 
the frank and manly statements that the wronged 
man made, when he was mellow. These admis- 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. l6l 

sions would pave the way for a fuller explana- 
tion. 

Thompson graphically narrated the adven- 
tures that were filled with hair-breadth escapes, 
and thus changed Harry’s opinion very materially. 
“ You know, Thompson, it was by your request 
that I entered that house. What happened there 
will never be told by me. It is too awful. I have 
followed your instructions to the letter. See 
where they have brought me; a ruined name, a 
blasted reputation, and an isolation from my fel- 
low-man that will haunt me.” 

“ You remember, Harry, that it was your 
choice. You look upon the matter too seriously. 
What is public opinion at best? It is a child of 
the devil, born without any human charity, re- 
lentless without reason, and pharisaical to the last 
degree. What matters it if the heart be pure? 
In the other and better life, deeds, not motives, 
are the coins of virtue.” 

“ Thompson, tell me do you know where 
Madge is? Did the papers state the information 
correctly? ” 

I cannot tell you because I do not know. 

Madam V is the only one that can give us 

the information. Even the police are in the dark.” 

“ You must, for my sake as well as your own, 
go back to work for the firm. You should show 
no mercy because none was shown to you. There 


i62 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

is some very important information in that vault 
that I should like to possess, and you are the 
one to work it up for me; will you do it? ” 

“ How do you know that they will give me my 
old position? I can see no reason why they 
should.” 

By to-morrow or the day after that you will 
receive a proposition from them. Don’t let any 
squeamishness about Blanche stand in the way. 
Such quixotic notions are stale in these rushing 
times, where the weakest goes to the wall.' Your 
employers would stand by and see you hanged 
without a twinge of remorse. I am sure that 
Blanche already feels that her father has wronged 
you. The game is in your own hands.” 

“ Mr. Thompson, tell me how did you know 
that the Judge was going to issue the order? 
Sure enough, the papers were under his paper- 
weight. He made a great to do about the mat- 
ter. For appearance sake he kept us on the ten- 
der hooks of expectation.” 

“ For the same reason he will give Harry back 
his place, and be ' sweet on him,’ as the society 
girls express it. Here is poor Claud that has al- 
most given up his practice on your account. He 
has nothing in the world to live upon, not to speak 
of myself. You can recoup us in a substantial 
way that will be more than appreciated.” 

“ I will accept if the position is offered to me. 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 163 

It will give me something to do ; anything to keep 
my mind occupied. I must not think of the past ; 
it is too gloomy.” 

The fire was low when the detective withdrew. 
He wrapped his greatcoat closer around him and 
hurried forward to his boarding house. With 
caution he inserted his night latch key and as- 
cended the carpeted stairway to his room. He 
lighted the gas and at once discovered that some 
curious hand had touched the plates of his micro- 
scope. Other articles had been overhauled and 
replaced, but not in the same order of their pre- 
vious arrangement. 

“ She knows of Harry’s release, I am sure of 
it. To-night is the first time she has been in my 
room since my arrival. I fear that woman, for 
I suspect that she really guesses that I am not 
what I seem to be. It is well that my beard is 
genuine.” 

The landlady was in her usual place at the 
head of the table. She was a business woman 
and ran a boarding house on strictly business prin- 
ciples. She did not gauge her guests ’appetites 
by the amount that they could eat, but by the 
amount of food they should eat; the milk glasses 
were modest as to .their capacity; the sugar was 
granulated because its dryness and sand-like qual- 
ities made the major quantity sift back into the 
bowl ; the spoons were dainty in their size ; the bis- 


164 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

cuits were regulated by the size of a silver dollar ; 
scientific economy in every department was the 
distinguishing feature of the Madam’s manage- 
ment. 

She paid more attention to his wants. The 
slices of bread were thicker, the juciest parts of 
the steak found their way to his place at the table. 
This attention annoyed him because the other 
boarders cast inquiring glances towards his dish- 
es, and either grumbled or exchanged knowing 
winks which clearly indicated that the Madam 
was nursing him for some especial reason which 
was yet to be developed. The detective had been 
in the house for several months. So unobtrusive 
were his movements that the largest number of 
regulars did not know that such a boarder was 
in the establishment. 

She took great pains to introduce him to every 
knight of the oblong table. The sallies of wit that 
passed around the table, directed and meant for 
him, irritated this silent man whose capacity for 
absorbing items was immense. His rejoinders 
were fashioned so skillfully that he turned the 
laugh on the Madam, at the same time he was 
gaining an insight into her nightly outings — an 
insight that was peculiarly advantageous, because 
all the gain was his and all the loss was hers. 
The places she frequented were all quietly booked 
for future reference; thus an insight into her 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 165 

reputation was gained by the exchange of a few 
silly jokes. 

“ Who would have thought such a meek-look- 
^ ing professor could be so wonderfully charming? 
Everyone at the table is asking who you are, and 
where you came from. I was ashamed to tell 
them that I did not know. Beg pardon, but did 
I see your references ; did I even ask you for them ? 
I have forgotten you came at a time when I was 
absent a greater part of the day. You may be 
an anarchist for all that I know; I don’t like 
your foreign appearance one bit. Is your beard 
securely fastened?” Suiting the action to the 
words she gave his whiskers a savage jerk that 
brought the tears to his eyes. 

A flush of anger suffused his face. His natur- 
ally bushy eyebrows met at an angle just over the 
bridge of his nose. A savage glare at the Madam 
made her feel at once that she had gone too far. 

“ Oh ! sir, pardon me ; I did not mean to be 
so rude. I had a slick-tongued detective here 
once. I do not know why he should, have singled 
out this house. I presume he was on the still 
hunt of some of my guests. Anyway, it made 
me feel uncomfortable all of the time.” 

“ What became of him ? Did he escape with his 
life? After such rough treatment I fear the worst.” 
The question came so suddenly that it threw her 
off of her guard for an instant, and she stammered 


j56 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

some lame excuse that was unintelligible, and 
scrutinized his appearance so closely that it re- 
quired all of his nerve to withstand the rigid in- 
spection. “Are you satisfied?” he drawled. 
“ I do not understand your American methods. 
Is it customary to treat guests in such a rude 
manner? I declare I never was so badly treated 
in my life.” 

“ I owe you an apology, sir, for my rudeness. 
Really, I must have been crazy, when I imagined 
that such a harmless creature as yourself could 
be a detective, or even an anarchist.” 

“You have paid me the greatest compliment 
of my life,” the professor lisped. He perceived 
that her suspicions were again aroused and con- 
tinued : “ I do not understand the exact mean- 

ing of your language. A detective is a very bad 
man, and an anarchist is bad too ; so if I have not 
sense enough to be bad, I must be good.” She 
did not probe the mental self-congratulation that 
made him feel secure in his perfect disguise. “ It 
is a compliment, indeed, if I can lose my identity 
and deceive this shrewd woman who is responsible 
for all of the misfortunes that have made us all so 
unhappy.” 

She laughed outright at this foreigner’s ex- 
planation, and added, “ how is it that you turned 
the tables on me at dinner time so cleverly? You 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 167 

must Study our idioms ; then you will not be placed 
in such a peculiar position.” 

The Madam turned on her heel and left the 
meek-looking man standing at the foot of the main 
stairway. Every time she turned around he was 
staring at her in the same stupid way. “ The old 
fool,” she muttered. “ The old fool,” he answer- 
ed back, as he mounted the steps to his room, 
where he amused himself with some rare speci- 
mens that he had mounted on plates that suited 
the stage of his microscope. 

While he was slowly focusing the fine adjust- 
ment, turning the large milled head lever forward 
and backward, the fragrance of some delicate per- 
fume made him aware that the Madam was not far 
away; either this or she had been overhauling his 
effects. “ Come in,” he ventured to remark. 
The door opened and the solicitude of his life 
stood by his side. “ Curiosity alone prompted 
me to enter a gentleman’s apartments,” she softly 
cooed. “ I have heard of that brass instrument 
when I went to school. I never had a chance to 
look through one before ; will you gratify my cu- 
riosity ? ” 

“ I am working upon a very dry subject,” he 
remarked. “ Take a peep through the tube, and 
tell me what you see.” 

She leaned forward in such a position that her 
warm breath was on his cheek. He could feel 


l68 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

the rapid beating of her heart as her bosom rested 
on his shoulder. Right well he knew what that 
meant; this human vampire was using the gift of 
beauty that God had given her to debase true 
manhood. 

“ Well, what do you see? ” he exclaimed, with 
some irritation ; “ tell me what you see. The fo- 
cus is perfect; anything that would induce you to 
wish to look again? ” 

“ I do not know what I see,” she answered ; 
“ it is horrid looking — looks like a sore place, or 
something of the kind.” 

He watched the expression of her face while 
he slowly repeated : “ that is the gray cell mat- 
ter of the brain — the brain of a crazy person.” 
He noted the agitation that she could not conceal 
and continued : “ I was studying the changes, or 

rather the breaking up of the nerve centers, but 
you are not interested in this kind of work I am 
sure, unless you had some dear one who was thus 
afflicted. I believe that I am on the eve of a 
grand discovery.” 

You are a queer man and no mistake. You 
are right; it does not interest me in the least.” 

“ I am glad to hear you say so, because you 
will understand how I love to pursue my investiga- 
tions in peace. I am not sociable in my nature. 
You are a beautiful woman and belong to society 
and the world. I hope you use it for the better- 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 169 

ment of those you wish to ensnare, otherwise you 
are a danger to be avoided. Do you understand 
me, Madam? ” 

“ It is a doubtful compliment that you have 
paid me, sir. I will study over the lessons of 
earlier years, then, perhaps, I will be able to un- 
derstand the subject which you have so ably ex- 
plained.” 

She said this with a wicked snap that left the 
detective in doubt as to her real meaning. “ I 
will come to see you often,” she remarked. The 
look that accompanied the promise was broad, 
even to forwardness. His expressionless face 
disconcerted the landlady who gave a shrug to 
her shapely shoulders as she passed out. 

“ I have the advantage this time. My dis- 
guise is perfect. There is a lingering something 
in my personel that makes her suspicious — some- 
thing of my former self that I must eliminate.” 

He unscrewed his high power objective and 
placed the microscope in its case. He patted the 
package affectionately as he soliloquized: “I 
shall expect great things from you, later. I must 
sleep now, then I will be in better condition for 
the night work that must yield me favorable re- 
sults. He noticed that the Madam dressed with 
unusual care, certain evenings in the week ; as this 
is one of her nights out, I shall be on hand to 
shadow this villainous woman.” 


170 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

He tilted backward in his easy chair, placed his 
feet on a low-seated stool in front of him and slept 
until the dinner bell rung. After the meal was 
served, he noticed that the Madam gave unusual 
attention to her toilet ; her cheeks had a suspicious 
peachiness that was youthful ; in fact she was ten 
years younger in the evening than she was in the 
morning. He also noticed that no carriage ever 
came to the door for her; she always quitted the 
house without an escort; her elaborate toilet was 
certainly out of place in a street car. 

“ I am of the opinion that she walks several 
blocks and enters a coupe or other conveyance and 
drives to the appointed place.^ He knew that she 
never absented herself from home without giving 
orders for breakfast. He knew that there was but 
one exit, and this was in the front of the house. 
There was a narrow alley that the servants used. 
He stationed himself over the way in his former 
position and waited for results. 

His landlady closed the front door carefully 
behind her and peered up and down the street as 
if she was expecting some one. The inspection 
was satisfactory. She tripped lightly down the 
steps with the detective at her heels. He follow- 
ed her for four squares. Back in the shadow of 
a tall building a hack was waiting. She was 
whirled rapidly away. There was no vehicle 
near the view point. 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 171 

“ I am disappointed,” he reflected. “ The 
light was so uncertain that I was unable to dis- 
tinguish the number. It was no ordinary hack. 
The family crest on the panel denoted shoddyism. 
These Americans have a weakness for show and 
display that is marvelous to a foreigner. How 
much more they should honor the ancestors whose 
brawn and muscle hewed out of the depths of vast 
primeval forests such a splendid civilization.” 

“ What has that to do with this subject? I am 
losing time standing here moralizing when I 
should be chaperoning the Madam, not that she 
needs such a companion, for she is fully able to 
take care of herself.” He did not return to his 
room but drew from his pocket the aforesaid 
leather pocketbook and drew therefrom the bits of 
writing paper that he found in the lawyer’s office. 

“ No. 4362, Second street,” was what the 

puzzle had written on it in a legible handwriting; 
“ I will take a peep and see what kind of company 
she keeps. As she will not return before three 
in the morning I will have plenty of time to locate 
her.” 

He buttoned up to the throat his dark-colored 
overcoat and pulled the brim of his soft felt hat 
over his eyes in such a manner that his features 
were concealed from any prying or meddling 
glances, and took his seat in the down town car, 
over in the corner next to the motorman. With 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


172 

his usual caution he alighted four squares from the 
house he was to shadow. He made his way by the 
less frequented streets to the front of the build- 
ing. The four stories of the building looked 
gloomy enough as they towered upwards; not a 
glimmer of light escaped from the closely curtain- 
ed windows. 

“ This is a close corporation or nothing at all. 
I will stand in this dark little alley where I can see 
the front and rear of the mansion to better ad- 
vantage? He was shielded from the cool winds 
that now and then blew the dust along the de- 
serted street in a manner that was annoying. The 
sound of a hasty footstep came from the farther 
end of the blind alley. He flattened his body 
against the brick wall and waited for the person 
to approach. 

“ Ah ! he has turned in farther up the side 
street,” the detective thought. “ This is one 
point that escaped me. I see a ray of hope in that 
little beam that is measured by the cubic foot. A 
good many cubic feet there are, judging by the 
time it takes for the Madam to reach home. An- 
other club member coming. I hear some who are 
more bold entering by the front door. I will move 
to the other side of the block and see who the 
patrolman is that is on this beat; he should know 
something of this m3^sterious house. He cannot 
be a very close observer. I have been here more 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. I73 

than two hours. I would have known it if he had 
passed me. Besides, in his opinion, I would be a 
suspicious character and liable to be arrested as 
such ; or, perhaps, this is some privileged associa- 
tion that is above the law. I do not know that 
the Madam came to this place.” 

“ Aha ! there is the carriage that she came in 
taking someone home drunk as a lord. He did 
not last long, or, perhaps, he is sick. The driver 
is unable to get him into the vehicle; now is my 
chance.” 


CHAPTER XL 


THE DEAD CLUBMAN. 

He passed quickly to the other side of the 
street and walked slowly by this Samaritan who 
was vainly endeavoring to hold the door of the 
hack open, and also trying to force the half tipsy 
man, who was as limber as an eel, into the narrow 
entrance. 

“ Bear a hand here, will you, stranger? ” The 
driver said this in a guarded tone of voice that 
was scarcely audible. “ Come, be quick about it, 
my friend, and I will thank you.” 

“ What is the matter with the man ? I must 
first know this. I do not wish to get into the 
clutches of the law for doing you a good turn ; he 
may have been drugged and robbed.” 

“ Say, man, if you are afraid, go up those steps 
and ring the bell. No, don’t do that either; go 
around the back way and touch the button; tell 
someone to come, and lose no time about it.” 

“ How do you get there? I am perfectly will- 
ing to help you in that way.” 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 175 

Go around in that alley and pass down this 
side until you come to a wooden double door.” 

“Is it open?” the detective asked. 

“ Reach your hand through the opening and 
unbolt the gate and go in. You will find the 
doors open ; go as fast as your feet will carry you.” 

Mr. Thompson hastened to do that which was 
a godsend to him. His appearance gave the ser- 
vants a surprise when he delivered the message. 
With his keen eyes he posted his memory with the 
details of the establishment. 

“ Could you give me a bit of something to eat 
or the price of a cup of coffee?” 

While the waiters hastened to assist the jehu, 
the detective sat down to the kitchen table and 
drank a delicious cup of coffee. It took the chill 
of the night air from his body. The salads that 
the waiters brought back from the third floor 
were relished in a way that made the attendants 
stare. It tickled these trained men to see the 
stranger stuff the food away beneath his waistcoat, 
and the stranger was tickled because they were 
tickled. He did not ask one question, but thank- 
ed them and glided into the darkness of the alley. 
He returned to his domicile well pleased with the 
night’s work. 

He did not see the Madam until late the next 
morning. The engorgement of the eyeballs 
plainly indicated that she had been drinking too 


176 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

deeply of the convivial cup. Her excuses were 
greeted with a wise silence that made such a vir- 
tue doubly golden. She was low-spirited and 
moody. What had happened the night last past 
had left a deep impression on her sober moments. 
Nothing seemed to interest her; one moment she 
laughed immoderately, the next moment her eyes 
filled with tears. 

“ I wonder who that man was that the hack- 
man thrust into the carriage? Fool that I was, I 
should have observed his face. What the con- 
nection is between that person and this woman is 
another hard nut to crack. I am in to the finish 
or my name is not ‘ Thompson with a p.’ ” 

He picked up the morning paper. The usual 
box car letters startled him as he read the head- 
lines: “Mr. Z ^ committed suicide.” How 

could he tell that the gentleman that committed 
suicide and the limber clubman were one and the 
same person? 

The Madam was too much excited to converse 
with ; she seemed to move away from him when- 
ever he approached her. He had the number of 
the dead man’s house; this he secured from the 
funeral notice. “ I must see this face ; it will be 
another link in the chain of evidence. I am sure 
she will not be there ; as the notice is general there 
is no impropriety in attending.” 

Another item of information that would be 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. I77 

useful to the detective was to locate the driver that 
put the stranger into the hack. He, the detec- 
tive, did not wish to be summoned as a witness 
.because it would ruin all of the labor of the past. 
He parted his whiskers in the middle and secured 
them in position by a bit of wax. He used his 
smoke-colored spectacles for his eyes, and gave to 
the outer ends of his bushy eyebrows an upward 
turn that changed the appearance of his expressive 
face beyond recognition. He took down from its 
peg a neat suit of black broadcloth. Thus equip- 
ped he entered the house of sorrow. The parlors 
at that early hour were comfortably filled with 
mourning relatives and friends. His entrance 
was not marked by any stares of curiosity. With 
quiet modesty he stood well to the rear where he 
was secure from remarks and was able to see with- 
out being seen. 

The Madam was not there, neither was the 
hackman there. A little feeling of disappoint- 
ment smote him sharply as he passed on with the 
mourners and glanced at the white dead face of 
the clubman, so expressionless and still. He 
filed out and watched the little groups scatter; 
some entered the carriages, and some dispersed 
to their respective homes. He noted each vehicle 
as it drove up to receive its load. “ I am right,” 
the detective soliloquized, “ this is the coupe with 
the narrow door, the family crest on the panel. 


lyS THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

the strong springs to the door that made me mas- 
ter of the situation.” 

The face of the suicide haunted him. How 
and under what circumstances he had seen the face 
before was a puzzle to unravel. He expected to 
look upon the face of the man that so strikingly 
resembled Harry. There lying in his casket was 
the man that was supposed to be dead, his throat 
severed by the knife that was in Harry’s hand 
when the murder was committed. 

Mr. Thompson scratched his head with the 
fourth finger of his right hand, a habit that he 
had acquired when he was deeply chagrined. 
“What does it all mean?” he mused. “More 
work for me, more work for me. I have wealth 
and influence to contend with. I see this the 
deeper I go. I must locate the driver of the ele- 
gant turnout, must strike while the iron is hot.” 

The same afternoon the clergyman was ad- 
roitly metamorphosed into a sandy-haired, greasy 
looking hobo. To make the deception more per- 
fect he sought a down-town livery stable that the 
odors might aid him in procuring a situation as 
hostler. Thus disguised, he entered by the rear 
entrance the house of mourning and applied for a 
position as rubber for the fine animals that were 
better housed than half of the human race. 

The tone of the voice that greeted him as he 
walked into the stable was not reassuring. The 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 1 79 

overbearing insolence of this upstart made his fin- 
gers twitch to be at his throat. He composed his 
nerves and replied to the question : “ Sir, I only 

want the price of a cup of coffee ; it’s not ivery 
one that kin be at sumthing these days.” 

“ You are too dirty to touch one of these 
horses; get out and find something else to do. 
Have you any references?” 

This query was providential because he was 
particularly anxious to locate Tim, the slick one, 
that drove Harry out to that ill-fated house on the 
suburbs. “ I can give you me friend Tim, as foine 
a whip as dhrove a hack. I am sure you moost 
know him.” 

“ Know him ? I should think I did know him ; 
a grander rascal never breathed the breath of 
life ; the police would give a round sum to gather 
him in.” 

“ Hev ye laid yer peepers an him within the 
three days?” 

“ Yes, he still drives a hack for the demi- 
monde. You will find his stand at the corner of 
street and the alley.” 

“ Sim wan dead in the house? I seed the iin- 
blim of mourning at the door. A gintleman, 
green-backs to burn ; he wi’nat nade the price uv 
a coop of cawfe now, puir man.” 

I will be out of a job myself. The house is 


l80 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

to be closed by order of the court, as the firm of 
have a mortgage on the property.” 

“ Confidintially, now ; he ware a hummer. It 
ware ye thet pushed him in the hack ; do ye mind 
the tramp that ye wanted to help ye whin he ware 
as limber as an eel?” 

A look of consternation came to the man’s 
face. “ You don’t look like the man that I asked 
to help me.” 

“Ye ware that ixcited that ye na ken eny 
wan.” 

“ I had nothing to do with the gentle- 

man’s death. I thought he was only knocked out. 
When we got here I found that he was as dead as 
a herring. He left a note which the coroner’s in- 
quest used as evidence. It looked billions for me, 
but the inquest made it all right.” 

“ They have the note. One of the jury, a 
young man, took it away with him. I suppose 
you will find it at the office of the Chief of Po- 
lice.” 

“ Ware thay lad a friend of the dead one? 

“ Look here, you dirty vagabond ; how is it 
that you are so interested in this man’s death? 
You are asking too many questions.” 

“ Nivir ye moind me. It is meesilf that tramps 
tha countree over. I will be in Chicargo in three 
days frum this.” 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. l8l 

“ Well, get out; somehow I fell into your gab 
so naturally that I told you too much.’' 

“ Ye’ze hev nawthing to creep about; the pa- 
per makes it all right and it’s a gude day to ye, 
sir.” 

When Thompson was changing his disguise 
his astute thoughts were as busy as his fingers. 
“ That young man that has the suicide’s note is the 
man I am after. It is dollars to doughnuts that 
the paper is forged. It used to be an easy thing 
for the Madam to imitate any one’s handwriting 

when she lived in the village of F . I must 

manage to get hold of that piece of paper; also 
some of the writing of the dead man and compare 
them. Just how it is to be done I do not know, 
unless it be through Harry. They must have had 
some business dealings — some evidence of indebt- 
edness, as the firm held a mortgage on the prop- 
erty. I must also get the secrets of that club- 
house; there will I find the trail of this night- 
bird.” 

Mr. Thompson had not been in his room for 
two days. He knew that the Madam would look 
with suspicion on his absence and renew the old 
grounds of complaint. The warmed-over dishes 
would again be a casus belli. His astonishment 
was augmented when she playfully remarked : 

“ I was going to drag the harbor for your 
body and here you are, sound and well. A large 


i82 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

city is a dangerous place for a meek professor to 
wander around when his mind is on the horrid 
sores you showed me through your microscope, 
and wanted to make me believe that the speci- 
men was some of the brains of a crazy person.” 

“ From the manner in which you acted, three 
days ago, I thought that I would have the pleasure 
of studying some of gray cell matter in your brain. 
I perceive that your condition is normal; I con- 
gratulate you.” 

“ Can you tell when a person has fever? You 
must be a doctor because you have so many vials 
of medicine on hand. It will save me doctor bills. 
Somehow I have confidence in your modest bear- 
ing.” She held out her plump, shapely arm and 
watched him count the pulse beats. When he 
had counted sixty she stammered: “Well, what 
do you say, my doctor? ” 

“ I will say that your system has undergone 
a terrible wrenching in the past three days; you 
have some fever yet. It is a different kind of 
fever — anxiety that depresses the nervous system, 
gives its own peculiar movement, and a sudden 
removal of the cause of the anxiety gives the pulse 
another beat that is not to be mistaken.” 

“ I do not like the way you tell me this. You 
shall not be my physician any longer. All per- 
sons have these spells, as you must know; you 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 183 

judged more by my outward looks than by my 
real pulse.” 

“ Then why did you ask me to pass an opinion 
on the general state of your health? Something 
happened to mar your happiness, night before last ; 
of course it is not for me to pass in judgment on 
your stirring life; perhaps some loved one died 
or you had a quarrel with the man you love.” He 
noted the paleness that hid the warmer tints and 
continued : “ Pardon me, I am intruding on the 

privacy of your inner self, when it is so foreign 
to my nature to do so.” 

“ What do you mean by my stirring life, I 
would like to ask?” 

“ Is not a boarding-house life a stirring life? 
If it is not, then am I most woefully mistaken. 
How did you ever drift into such a drudgery? ” 

“ I cannot live without excitement. It is my 
very life. In this business one meets all classes 
of people, coming and going. I meet those I 
love, and I also meet those I hate ; as you see, I 
am on the go all of the time.” 

“You are right, love and hate make up the 
sum of this world’s existence. As for myself, I 
am a philosopher in my way. I never go to ex- 
tremes; thus my pulse is never irregular. The 
world owes me a living, and I owe the world a 
debt that kindness for my fellow-man must can- 
cel.” 


184 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

“ What a saint you are, you dear man ! I am 
wicked in my way. I find pleasure in everything 
that is worldly. I belong to clubs where money 
is lost and won. I go to the theater and see the 
plays. A short life and a merry one for me, is 
my motto. What good is all your knowledge; 
you have filled your brain with wisdom that will 
die with you.” 

“ Time, Madam, will prove to you that learn- 
ing is foe to ignorance and crime. I do not be- 
lieve in graveyard somberness.” 

The detective said this with a comical serious- 
ness that made the Madam laugh softly in her 
own peculiar manner. It resembled the purring 
of a cat, as she whimpered: “ Really, now, pro- 
fessor, there is in you the making of a real society 
man. To return to the subject of insanity, do 
persons ever get well when once their minds have 
been wrecked? ” 

She was thinking of the young girl that sought 
her protection in the months gone by, yet there 
was not a single twinge of conscience in the 
thought. The girl was in her way and stood be- 
tween her and a colossal fortune. All of the 
money that she had thus far received was for the 
maintenance and support of this niece. Little 
benefit the inmate of an asylum received from 
moneys so transferred from England. She felt 
that the professor was eyeing her narrowly. 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 185 

“ My ! how busy my mind was with the dreams 
that have never been realized. Again I ask you, 
do such persons ever get well ? ” 

“ Perhaps; if I could see the patient I might 
give a more satisfactory answer. I have had a 
grand experience in the asylums on the conti- 
nent.” 

“ I did not say that I had such a patient. 
What led you to believe that such was the case? 
You ask such queer, direct questions; you make 
me nervous; do not do it again.” 

‘‘You were so anxious to be informed; how 
can I pass on a case when I have never been 
favored with a chance to see the girl.” 

“ I did not say anything about a girl, but I 
do not mind telling you that I once had a niece 
who was slightly demented.” 

“ Mr. Thompson’s heart almost stopped beat- 
ing as he asked in strong, clear voice : “ Is the 

girl alive ? ” I ask this because I have a prepara- 
tion that will build up the nervous system; then 
she will be fortified against a second attack.” 

“ Have you something that will make her 
worse ? ” 

She has indirectly answered my anxious 
thoughts. I see it all. She has this poor child 
in a private asylum. It will be very difficult to 
locate her. She was too smart to place her in 
a public institution. If she has placed her in 


i86 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

some retreat and changed her name, this fact will 
make it more difficult for me to reach the unfor- 
tunate child. 

“ What are you studying about ? I saw a 
look of pain come over your face. Does the fate 
of the maiden trouble you? ” 

“ It is a terrible misfortune to lose one’s mind.” 
He said this slowly, for the thought came to him 
that he had gone too far with his questionings. 
This female devil would be on her guard and make 
it more difficult to trace the Madam’s niece. She 
ended the tete a tete by saying: “ I do not un- 
derstand you; you are either a fool or a knave. 
Here I have been spending the entire afternoon 
with you, and for what? You are too much of an 
old stick; you have no get-up about you. I per- 
mitted you to feel my pulse and you dropped my 
arm like it was poison.” 

“ I am not given to transports ; it is not in my 
nature. Perhaps with others you will know what 
a transport is; so do not waste any of your sweet- 
ness on an humble professor like myself.” 


CHAPTER XII. 


AT THE CLUB. 

With this remark, he turned to his books and 
was soon poring over the pages with an earnest- 
ness that had wisdom in every line. When she 
was gone, he threw the book upon the bed and 
waited for the supper that was then upon the ta- 
bles. This was the Madam’s club night. He 
could not disguise himself as a waiter, because the 
waiters were in each other’s way. His presence 
and a knowledge of the premises would bring to 
him a line of action. 

The Madam was too busy with her toilet to 
notice the silent man that hastened to put some 
finishing touches to his make-up. He arrived 
early at the back entrance of the club-house and 
slipped his hand through the small opening. The 
bolt responded to the pressure and thus he let 
himself in, where the cooks were busy preparing 
the luxurious food of these epicures. 

Thompson looked and acted like a waiter that 
had spilled most of the rich gravy on his last year’s 
suit of clothes. Their mirror-like surface was 


l88 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

anything but a recommendation. This was the 
impression that he wished to make on the minds 
of these servants. The suit was too good for 
the tramp act and not good enough for the ser- 
vice of this rich club. 

“ How did you get in here ? ” was the first 
question that was asked the detective. “ Come, 
be off with you; this is no place for you.” 

“ I am the one that helped the groggy gentle- 
man into the hack, last week,” the new comer 
replied; “ you promised me a bite to eat. I could 
make myself useful for the leavings.” 

“ If the members of the club knew that you 
were here they would raise old sand. Go out 
there in the coal shed and bring me some coal. 
The stuff will not be ready for two hours.” 

One hod of coal, then two, three, four, and five 
buckets followed in quick succession. The steel 
range was a friend to the man that furnished the 
coal. It kept the detective busy and thus avert- 
ed the suspicious glances that were from time 
to time cast in his direction. 

“ Keep up the lick, my lad,” the cook exclaim- 
ed. “ As good a meal as you ever ate shall go 
under your belt ; the big ones up there shall have 
no better.” In a dozen ways the disguised man 
assisted this master in the art of preparing tempt- 
ing dishes. He knew by the busy movements of 
the well trained waiters that the menu was ready 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 189 

to be served, and from the manner that it was 
served he judged that the tables were irregularly- 
placed about the apartment for the convenience 
of the members, who came and went, but did not 
remain during the evening. 

This was a disappointment to the searcher af- 
ter truth. Perhaps the man he wished most to 
see would lounge around the clubroom and then 
go elsewhere. He did not know for certain that 
this night owl belonged to this association. If 
such was the case, it conveyed to his (the detec- 
tive’s) mind, evidence that the suspected one had 
considerable wealth. The appointments and dec- 
orations of the establishment were costly in the 
extreme. Now and then he had a glimpse of the 
Madam as she sat at one of the tables where the 
red and white chips were stacked up by the side of 
each eager player. The distance was so great 
that he could not name the game, yet he could 
see the tempters of the fickle goddess. 

His landlady was a cool player. The stacks 
of chips would diminish, and then some lucky turn 
of the cards would build them up. “ There is old 
Greenbags, the lawyer, just come in. Times 
must have improved with him since he occupied 
the dingy little office, with its cobwebs and musty 
smell. He calls the Madam to one side and reads 
a letter to her. Something unusual has happen- 


190 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

ed, for both are excited. They are coming this- 
way as I am a sinner.” 

As they swept by him towards the back en- 
trance the letter the lawyer had in his hand was 
blown from him by a gust of wind and carried 
by the coal shed to the back part of the enclosure. 
In vain they sought to find it. 

“ I am sorry for this. That paper must be 
found, to-morrow. It is as dark as four black 
cats. It would take sharper eyes than ours to 
see it in such darkness. I will come myself, to- 
morrow, I promise you.” 

Madam F was peevish. The attorney 

had broken up her game when all of the luck was 
with her. For this reason she purred: ‘‘You 
put all of the dirty work on me ; why don’t you 
do some of it yourself? You know where Madge 
is as well as I do. You are getting all the pay 
and I am doing the work.” 

“ You gamble all of yours away. What you 
don’t gamble away you give to that trifling 
scamp.” 

“ Mention his name and I will murder you, 
you miserable pettifogger,” the infuriated woman 
hissed in his ear; “ there may be someone listen- 
ing to what we say.” 

They did not see the form of the detective 
crouched against, the dark background of coal, or 
see the watchful eyes that had located the letter 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. I9I 

as it fluttered in whimsical curves here and there, 
and finally settled in a little patch of stunted grass 
in the far corner of the lot. 

“Tell me what was in the letter? If neces- 
sary, we will get a lantern and search until we do 
find it.” 

“ The lawyers in London have, or are going 
to issue an order of court. This order will state 
that your niece must be returned to England. 
A board of experts will pass upon the mental con- 
dition of the maiden. You know what this means ; 
you know that she is as sane as you or I. It 
means no more money from the other side. They 
already suspect that something is wrong. Some- 
how they are too well posted as to what is going 
on here. That detective that was on our tracks 
is frozen as stiff as a steel ramrod; were it not 
for this circumstance I should imagine that he was 
after us. Pshaw, I know he is dead, for no living 
thing could stand such a low temperature. A 
polar bear has eaten him long ago.” 

“ What do you expect me to do, you old sin- 
ner? I have already done enough to burn for- 
ever in the lake that the good people preach 
about. This does not trouble my conscience, v be- 
cause, like yourself, I have no conscience. I will 
do anything to get hold of this vast sum of 
money.” 

“ You must put the girl out of the way.” 


192 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


‘‘ How do you mean ; in what manner ? 

You must kill her or get some one in the 
asylum to give her a heavy dose of laudanum.” 

‘‘ I cannot do this awful deed. I know that 
I am bad but not bad enough for the terrible work 
you have mapped out for me.” 

‘‘ You doped that fine man, the other night, 
that you might win his money ; you gave him too 
big a dose and he is dead. You did not seem to 
have any compunctions of conscience on this 
score. You did not lose any sleep because you 
sold this young girl’s innocence for money. 
Shall I continue ? ” 

I will do this : place her in a very private 
asylum, where no one will ever find her. We will 
give her a fictitious name; then she will be to all 
intents and purposes dead. You can draw up the 
papers and have her death sworn to in legal 
form.” 

“ By these means, then, you would bridge over 
the law and get hold of the fortune of this young 
girl. Supposing that in time they should want to 
see the corpse, what then? ” 

By that time there would not be much of 
the money left. I would buy diamonds galore 
and skip to Europe — go to Paris where I have a 

friend ; she lives at Rue St. . A merry life 

and a short life for me.” 

Where is your husband now? Everyone 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. I93 

thinks you are a widow. How did you ever mar- 
ry such a ruffian ? He was going to cut my throat, 
just for the fun of the thing.” 

“ He is at the bottom of the sea, I hope. The 

firm of X is keeping him out of the way. 

The insurance companies paid the immense sum, 
but they paid it under protest. The standing of 
the firm precluded the possibility of any fraud. 
If he is not dead, then he is in London, No. — 
street, Whitechapel.” 

“ That letter was an order on the asylum to 
deliver up the girl to the English Consul. The 
necessary papers will come through the Depart- 
ment of State. You see how important it is to 
get her out of the way, since your conscience is 
so susceptible to the pleas of human feeling, and 
your heart is so tender; ha ! ! ha ! ! by Jove, that 
is good ; you must get her out of the way and lose 
no time about it.” 

Madge is high strung like her late father 
was. She would be glad to eat morphine to drown 
her sorrows. I will see that she has plenty to 
take, then her mind will be a blank. I will prom- 
ise you that they will never find her, hunt as they 
will.” 

Did you cash that latest sterling exchange 
that I sent over to you by Tim? I have no con- 
fidence in him, and he has no confidence in me — 
a poor partnership to begin business.” 


194 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


“ I cashed it and gambled it all away, so the 
asylum will have to do without the allowance that 
has been coming regularly from London, the al- 
lowance that I have been spending on myself from 
time to time. There is now owing to the soft- 
hearted manager of the place tv/o years' indebt- 
edness. I do not care if it is never paid; I have 
had my fun. This proprietor has taken a deep 
interest in Madge and classes her among those 
patients that can be cured, providing she can be 
aroused from the lethargy that holds her senses 
in thrall.” 

“ Hell is too good for such a vampire as you 
are.” The lawyer said this as he turned full upon 
the woman that seemed not to have a soul, a 
heart, a particle of gentleness; no single trait to 
indicate that she was human. He continued: 
“ How is this amount to be paid ? They will not 
let the unfortunate girl go without the money 
due is paid in full. Where do I come in? You 
must have hypnotized me when you let my natural 
shrewdness be slaughtered by your promises to 
pay. What a fool I was! Well, I will make my 
money out of the firm whose standing is high. 
Everybody has had a fat slice of this English 
estate but me. The State Department will be in- 
vestigating this miserable business; what then? 
Uncle Sam has a long arm.” 

“ Leave it to me,” the woman said ; no one 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 195 

shall find Madge, and I will hoodwink the soft- 
hearted doctor and take my niece away right un- 
der his nose. Do you think that I am going to let 
this girl stand in the way of this fortune? Never ! 
on your life. How will the government officials 
find the place? No one but myself knows where 
she is.'' 

“You are a fool! The letter has the proper 
address. We must take another hunt for the mis- 
sive." 

Fate was against them. They lighted matches 
and sought with diligence for the precious docu- 
ment. The sweepings from the rooms misled 
them. The lawyer spoke up : “ The paper can- 

not get away; I am sure of this. The high brick 
wall will prevent the wind from doing any fur- 
ther damage. As a member of the club, I shall 
have this place thoroughly cleaned. It's a dis- 
grace to the standing of the club." 

He gave a quiet chuckle as he made this clos- 
ing remark, and gave the aforesaid vampire a dig 
in the ribs with his honey thumb, and added: 
“ Money makes a curtain that poverty cannot 
peep behind. Hea ! ! ho ! ! what a world this 
is ; how good we would all be if every person knew 
what every other person was doing." 

She sighed and whimpered : “ It would ruin 

my business ; no millenniums for me." 

Their voices were modulated to a whisper as 


196 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

they made their exit by the alley gate. When 
they were at a safe distance and their footsteps 
were echoes from the far side, the detective 
crawled from the dark little corner of the wood 
shed and straightened his cramped limbs. The 
blood circulation was almost nothing. He rubbed 
his limbs vigorously for ten minutes, and hobbled 
to the spot where the moist letter was wedged 
between two tufts of dead grass. He did not 
fear detection. The suppressed revelry came 
faintly to his ears. They were too busy with 
their merriment to heed the tired man that light- 
ed a match and with a rapid glance at the face 
of the letter muttered: 

“ God bless this night and the good that it 
has brought to me. Old Greenbags is right; she 
is a vampire, clothed with the outward semblance 
of womanhood. I pray to God that the young 
girl had the strength and firmness of her race. 
I feel that she had this and is as pure as the days 
when she said her little prayer at her mother’s 
knee. There is a terrible reckoning for some one 
or my name is not — say Thompson, if you please, 
or any other name for that matter. How stiff 
my knee joints are! I must get out of this and 
lose no time about it. If I should be discovered 
those who are searching will know that their se- 
cret is the property of another. They will skip 
the country and thus balk all of my plans.” 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. I97 

“ I trust that the miserable shyster will not 
blackmail Blanche’s father, at least until I get 
from Harry the information that I want. I must 
keep a sharp lookout in this quarter and see thar 
Harry’s high sense of honor does not make him 
a suitor for Blanche’s hand. At the same time, 
I will cast my weather eyes over the chart of his 
conscience and see how he weathers the nagging 
gale.” 

With the precious letter filed away in his come- 
to-judgment leather pocketbook, he walked home. 
The exercise took the stiffness from his legs. 
The brisk pace made his blood circulate more 
rapidly. When he reached his room he was glad 
to turn in and enjoy a refreshing sleep. Before 
he did this he took from his pocket a small bur- 
glar alarm and fastened it on to the door jamb and 
the door. This precaution taken, he slept until 
the morning sun was shining in his face ; no one 
had attempted to force an entrance. 


CHAPTER XIIL 


AT THE ASYLUM. 

He did not see the Madam. He pictured the 
consternation of the partners in crime who sought 
in vain for the lost order. They cursed the wind 
for the misfortune that left them almost helpless. 
The consoling thought to them was that the wind 
had blown it over the wall, into some trash heap 
where it would be burned. It was of no use to 
any one but the parties interested. 

He hurried to the rendezvous and disguised 
himself as a physician, secured a hack and drove 
to the gloomy building. He drew on his bank 
account for more than the amount due — that is 
to say, for an approximate amount. 

“ The Vampire is right,” Mr. Thompson 
thought. “ This manager is soft. She could not 
have selected a more fitting minion. The man 
is all right, but he has not the power to resist 
the hypnotic influence of this bold, bad woman.” 

Tlie detective was seated in the office of the 
asylum and awaited the return of the superinten- 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


199 

dent, who with an officiousness that was ludicrous, 
inquired as to the nature of his business. 

The detective handed the order to the man- 
ager and remarked : “ I have come for the young 

girl you have been treating for the year just past. 
Is there any hope of her recovery? ” 

“ You are a little too late, sir; the patient left 
here half an hour ago. Deuced glad to get rid of 
her and get my money. I thought I was a vic- 
tim of misplaced confidence. The crafty woman 
that brought her here gave me nothing but prom- 
ises ; you cannot run an asylum on promises. She 
came with a closed carriage, gave me a check for 
the amount and took the girl away. She was 
an interesting patient. Some great shock must 
have unbalanced her mind. It is not a hopeless 
case by any means. Here comes my wife; she 
will tell you more about this patient than I can. 
I must deposit this check as soon as possible.” 

“ One moment, sir, if you please. Would 
you let me see the check, for in all probability I 
will have to return the amount, as it was a kind- 
ness on the part of the payer because it was un- 
authorized.” 

Mr. Thompson made a note of the face of the 
check and returned same to the weak-minded 
physician, who hastened to get it cashed. The 
manager’s wife entered. A pleasant feeling came 
into his thoughts. “ Here is,” he said, “ a grand 


200 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

woman that you can count on every time. She 
has unusual strength of character. I have need 
for just such a friend later.” She approached 
with a frankness that was charming and soon 
made him feel perfectly easy, while their conver- 
sation naturally drifted to the sweet-mannered pa- 
tient that was concealed somewhere in the city. 

The detective was chagrined at the turn of af- 
fairs. A hundred conjectures flitted through his 
mind. It is best that Madge should suffer for a 
while; her victory will be more complete. Be- 
sides, I would have been compelled to act with 
promptness and thus scattered the covey that I 
wish to bring down with one shot. He was de- 
bating the propriety of making this woman a 
confidante when a well-modulated voice quietly 
interrupted his meditation with : 

“ Well, sir, pardon me, my time is precious. 
If I can give you any information in regard to 
this girl I will do so with pleasure, but I cannot 
spend the morning here.” 

“ I will tell you. Madam, why I am so disap- 
pointed at not finding the girl in this retreat. I 
feel that I can trust you to the fullest extent, else 
am I the most mistaken person in the world. If 
you do not see fit to assist me I will kindly ask 
that you will not betray my confidence in the mat- 
ter that I must lay before you.” 

“This poor girl is a victim of cruel circum- 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 201 

stances. The woman that placed her here and 
removed her to some other asylum is her aunt. 
A more heartless person never existed. She 
hates this young lady because her niece is in her 
way, and the only living heiress to a very large 
fortune.’' 

“ This explains what I could not understand. 
Evidently this aunt had a mistaken idea of the 
scope of this asylum. She wanted us to murder 
a helpless patient by giving her morphine, and 
hinted that the young girl had brought disgrace 
on the family by her dissolute habits. Sir, I am 

sorry she is a woman; I mean Madam V , 

the one that wished to make me an accomplice 
in such a cowardly persecution of innocence.” 

“ God bless you. Matron, for speaking out so 
boldly. I will tell you, further, that she sold, or 
tried to sell, this victim’s virtue for money. I 
am a detective and am going to bring the guilty 
persons to justice. I know that I am struggling 
against the fat purses of the rich, but with God’s 
help I will be successful.” 

“ And I will help you all I can and keep the 
secret here in my heart. She evidently loyes 
some one named Harry; at least, I gather thus 
much from her incoherent ramblings.” 

“ I am glad you feel as you do about this 
patient. From what you say I am of the opinion 
that her case is not hopeless.” 


202 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

“ It is more of a brooding melancholy. She 
is never violent but sits up in her bed and picks 
the cotton batting from the comfort; she does 
this mechanically. If she walks in the park, she 
will strip the leaves from the shrubbery and pulls 
each leaf to little bits.” 

A despondent look overspread the detective’s 
face. “ Is it as bad as that ? ” he queried. “ I 
hoped that a sight of the man she loves would 
produce reaction. You know such things have 
been done; it is worth trying.” 

“ Her case is far from hopeless. We did not 
hasten her cure because the woman threatened to 
take her away. I am very much attached to the 
maiden and wished to preserve her from a worse 
fate.” 

“ I will detain you but one moment. I am 
going to find Madge, for this is her name, and 
bring her back to this place where Harry, her 
lover, can come to see her often. Do not be 
afraid to let them mingle, for this young man is 
the soul of honor. They have been sweethearts 
since they were children. I will see that you are 
paid for the trouble. Under no circumstances 
permit any one to remove her.” 

“You have placed me under so many obliga- 
tions that I shall be a bankrupt when payday ar- 
rives.” 

Mr. Thompson was cautious. For this rea- 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 203 

son he took down in that famous book the de- 
scription of the driver, together with the number 
of the hack that conveyed him to the asylum. 
He had paid him and dismissed him, when he 
learned that the Vampire had abducted her 
niece. 

“ Tim has done his part of the business well ; 
I am sure of this from the description the matron 
gave to me. I must shadow this driver else my 
chances will be small. I have had harder cases 
when I did not have the least showing for a starter. 
I have other work to do in a different direction. 
The Vampire outfooted me again. It is best to 
make haste slowly.” 

When the disappointed man changed his dis- 
guise for an ordinary business suit he worked his 
v/ay down to the City Hall and entered the regis- 
ter’s office where the licenses for vehicles were is- 
sued. The books were neatly kept and alphabet- 
ically arranged. It had never occurred to him 
that he did not know Tim’s last name. This was 
a serious obstacle to any further effort on his part. 
He ran his eyes along the long pages of the rec- 
ord but no familiar group of letters of the alpha- 
bet spelled out the name of Tim. There were 
scores of Browns, Joneses and Smiths. A happy 
thought came to him : the long pocketbook con- 
tained this evidence. He remembered the date 
of the entry and turned to the page that displayed 


204 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

the number of Tim’s hack. As the numbers were 
also arranged numerically he placed his dexter 
finger on the number, and followed the line out to 
the remark column, where he found the initial 
and the name, and opposite to this the remark, 
which was not complimentary to the hackman’s 
reputation. 

Do you know where I can find Tim 

W ? I think a friend of mine paid him 

too much money; it was a mistake, you know. 
I am sure he would return the difference if I 
could find him.” 

The clerk gave the detective a look that plain- 
ly indicated that his questioner was just a shade 
verdant. He politely replied by saying: “Nev- 
er saw Tim, did you? If you knew him well you 
would never ask such a question. Every person 
in this building knows him. He is always get- 
ting into trouble and always getting out of 
trouble ; no one knows how he does it. 
They do say he has first-class backing.” The 
motion that followed this remark, i. e., a sliding 
of the thumb of the right hand on the first and 
second fingers at the first joints, was significant 
and needed no further explanation. 

“ Where does his hack usually stand? I must 
make the effort to see him. Twenty dollars is 
too much money to pay for one short ride.” 

“Your friend was slumming, I suppose; got 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 205 

off easy — dead easy. Those that come to the 
city sometimes lose ten times that amount and 
never squeal. The notoriety and fines make such 
little indiscretions come high.” 

The twaddle of this glib-tongued youth, with 
his mammoth headlight diamond, bored the de- 
tective. Prudence restrained him from replying, 
because he had further use for him in the future. 
As he moved away from the register he turned to 
the young gentleman and said : “ I thank you 

for the courtesy, sir; really, do I look so green 
that it is noticeable?” 

‘‘ You are a good one,” was the reply. 

Exactly what this meant the detective did not 
know. “ I hope he did not see my star when I 
bended over the pages of the record. From 
what information I gleaned it is nothing unusual 
for persons to inquire for Tim. I must pin the 
badge further back under my arm.” 

Mr. Thompson had no difficulty in locating 
Tim's hack stand. The item he received from the 
clerk was verified by the memorandum in his book. 
Tim’s hack was there but there was another man 
driving it. With a due amount of caution he 
sauntered along the line of vehicles. The down- 
headed, sleepy horses that gave one a tired feel- 
ing, clearly indicated the hard life that these ja- 
ded beasts were compelled to endure. His phil- 
anthropy was swiftly dispelled by the eager cry: 

Have a hack, sir! have a hack, sir! ” 


206 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

“ I was looking for my friend Tim’s turnout. 
He is so obliging I always give him the preference. 
He did me a good turn once and I am not the one 
to forget it.” 

“ This is his hack ; jump in ; I will serve you 
just as well, if not better than Tim. He is in 
the country but will be back to-night.” 

“ I will not need him ’till to-night; he knows 
what I want.” 

‘‘ A private snap, sir, I guess. Well, it is your 
own business, as for that ; shall I tell him where to 
call?” 

“ A change of programme may make a call 
unnecessary. If I need him I will come back.” 
He noted the shrewd glances that were directed 
towards him. He heard what they said about 
him. One of the faces was very familiar to him 
and recalled the person of the detective that be- 
trayed him and caused him to undergo the miles 
of travel and the hardships that followed. He 
listened with attention because this detective was 
saying : 

“ That man, he was never a detective in his 
life. I know every one on the force. I can tell 
by the cut of his jib; no danger there. Tim gets 
paid for services that have no outward appearing ; 
that is Tim’s business, not ours.” 

“ It is clear to me why the detective force is 
so unsuccessful,” the detective said, ‘‘ and further 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 20/ 

explains why Tim so often eludes arrest. The 
chief should know this. That traitor thinks I am 
dead. How lucky it is that I did not report. I 
have too much at stake to settle with him now. 
This hack-hunting- gives me a clue to follow. 

Madge is in the asylum in F ; it 

would take Tim just about the time his absence 
checks. So! so! my lady Vampire; you thought 
to throw the English officers down.” 

“ The retreat that is situated in the Village of 

F used to be a very respectable place. The 

matron, years gone by, was a kind-hearted wom- 
an. Madge will at least be treated with Christian 
kindness. I am almost sure of one thing, that 
she will not remain in this institution long. It 
is a temporary transfer. When the English writs 
are served, no process can issue.” 

“ Madge will be there at least three months. 
This will give the woman time to make another 
move. If the girl is not found, this circumstance 
will save pounds sterling for the estate. The 
Madam’s pin money will be discontinued;, then 
the blackmailing will begin in earnest.” 

“ I must be sure that Madge is in this asylum, 
and if she has lucid moments I will give her to 
understand that Harry loves her still. Her de- 
sire to see him will make her cunning. By this 
means I will be able to locate her when she is 
returned to the city.” 


CHAPTER XIV. 


THE RESCUE. 

The train for F did not leave for four 

hours. He made all of his preparations for the 
journey, hailed a wagon that was for hire and was 
driven to the station with a creepiness that made 
his trip tiresome. He arrived just in time to pur- 
chase a second grade ticket. It was a lucky stroke 
of fortune that the slow gait of the spavined horse 
made him late. He saw two detectives on the 
alert for some one. His tramp costume made 
him an object of suspicion. The rush of the pas- 
sengers to secure two seats each diverted the 
minds of the agency experts. Thus he slipped 
into a high-backed seat where his hat only showed 
above the top of the seat. The thick clouds of 
tobacco smoke made him sick. The flow of small 
talk gave him time to study the situation. The 

train pulled into the the village of F , into 

the long shelter that protected the passengers 
from the weather. 

The darkness favored his exit from the coach. 
Half sick and hungry, he sought his old friend, 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


209 


whose dingy sign had weathered the gales for 
many a year. “ The Inn has not changed since 
I was here, years ago. The roughly made bench- 
es are the same that old Peter, the carpenter, 
made when I was a boy. They were arranged 
around the three sides of the room with their backs 
to the wall. The tall counter of the bar was a 
reminder of the days when his boyish eyes looked 
longingly at the brown doughnuts and the fried 
chicken that adorned one end of the three-cor- 
nered arrangement that had the greasy register 
on one side and eatables on the other side. The 
office was a rendezvous for the gray beards who 
sipped and gossiped, and gossipped and sipped 
the beer that was never stale for the drawing. 
The little old-fashioned wood stove was filled with 
wood, for the night was raw; the dampness made 
the detective draw nearer to the heat that sent 
its cheerfulness to the fartherest corner of the 
dingy room. 

These loungers paid no attention to Mr. 
Thompson, as they traced up the marriage rela- 
tionship of this family and that family, and aired 
all of the shortcomings of the human race in so 
far as the village was concerned. Madam 

V did not come under the tongue of good 

report ; the fast life she led was the common prop- 
erty of the town. He was surprised at the ac- 
curacy of their information, the more so since the 


210 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


dead village seldom exchanged letters with the 
metropolis. The Madam had distant relatives on 

her mother’s side of the house, living in F , 

and these relatives received letters from Eng- 
land. A thrill of satisfaction made him feel that 
his report to the home office was received. 

The arrival of a stranger for the asylum creat- 
ed a fresh wave of excitement. The irritating 
secrecy only whetted their appetites the more, be- 
cause the only respectable turnout that the place 
afforded was a carryall, that was used for deliver- 
ing groceries and dead people. The curtains 
were closely clewed down. This circumstance 
aroused suspicion and curiosity was on tip toe to 
learn who the lady, was that was in the retreat. 

Fortunately the detective understood from a 
remark that was made that the family grocery at 
the corner was needing a general utility man. 

As this was the only place in F where food 

could be procured, the chances were that the re- 
treat gave the aforesaid merchant the benefit of 
its purchases. There were so many tramps in the 
country that this particular tramp created no es- 
pecial sensation. The group that separated for 
the night merely glanced at the stranger and 
humorously remarked : “ Another candidate for 

street improvement; the town marshal will get 
him sure, to-morrow. I wish more would come; 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 2II 

it saves us the trouble of working on the roads, 
and also saves us the penalty for neglect.” 

The last sturdy burger had said good night. 
The landlord came up to the detective and with a 
kind manner of speech asked for his stipend for 
lodging. “ Come, my good man, you must find 
lodgings somewhere else unless you pay me. 
Another piece of advice I will give you, and won't 
charge you anything for, is: get out of town as 
fast as you can. Everybody here makes an hon- 
est living; we have no room for idlers.” 

“ I did not come to this town (whatever its 
name may be), to do nothing; it’s not the likes 
of me to do it. Me fists are more ready than 
the place to work. It’s myself that’s been listen- 
ing to the talk, and it’s the grocer that’s wanting 
a man to drive his wagon, and Barney’s the wan 
to do it.” 

“ How much have you got about your jeans? 
my good man. It is getting late; I must close 
or be fined.” 

The detective turned his pocket inside out and 
emptied the contents into his lap; a short-stem 
white clay pipe, three old buttons, a knife with all 
of the blades broken, a five-cent bag of tobacco, 
and two nickels, completed the inventory. “ It’s 
not mesilf that’l be robbed ; I’m an honest man 
and invy no man his wilth. A corner to slheep, 
and a bite of bread, is the ixtint uv me wants.” 


212 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

“ Give me the nickels, and 3^ou can sleep in 
the barn, and a bite you shall have in the morn- 
ing. I will say a good word for you, to-morrow. 
I like the way you talk. We will make a good 
citizen of you yet; be off with you.^’ The kind- 
hearted landlord went outside and closed the old- 
fashioned shutters, just as he had done years ago. 
The iron bar that stretched diagonally across the 
blind on the outside was secured on the inside by 
a bolt that fastened on the inside. 

The detective took the blankets that the land- 
lord gave him and made a comfortable night of 
it in the hay-loft. He scooped out a place in the 
hay and, thus protected by blankets, slept soundly 
until morning. “ The old town has not changed a 
particle since I was here the last time.” He said 
this as he rubbed his eyes that smarted from the 
seeds that sifted down on him while he snoozed. 
The clear water from the pump was gathered by 
making his hands a water-tight cup in which he 
buried his face. As there was no towel he wait- 
ed for the sun and air to evaporate the moisture. 
Thus refreshed, he went to the kitchen and sat 
upon the doorstep where he waited for some- 
thing to eat. The fast of the night before sharp- 
ened his appetite. As he sat there he saw the 
landlord speak to the grocer. 

The tramp surmised that the landlord and the 
grocer were making some arrangement whereby 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 213 

he was to be benefited. The cheery voice of the 
innkeeper summoned him to the low-ceilinged 
store that smelled loudly of kerosene oil and ba- 
con. “ I have you fixed up, my man, if you are 
willing to work for your board, which will, of 
course, be furnished by me.” 

The detective mentally smiled, because the 
transparency of the transaction was too evident. 
A new boarder was added to the register. It 
suited Mr. Thompson’s purpose exactly. With- 
out waiting for orders, he slipped around to the 
stable that was constructed of pine slabs, ended up 
and secured by strips nailed on the inside. 

The sleepy-eyed animal merely opened one 
eye in a knowing manner that plainly said: 
“ Why do you come to disturb my lazy rest ? ” 
Even the rubbing down he received was acknowl- 
edged by a sleepy yawn. The utility man made 
himself useful in a dozen ways, all of which was 
duly noted by the man in the store. He gave the 
harness a good oiling, and went over the carry- 
all with soap and water until the rig was respecta- 
ble enough to be used at a funeral, not to speak of 
passengers from the station. This part of the 
duty he did not relish — the prominent part of run- 
ner — for the eye-to-business landlord brought him 
in contact with the traveling public. 

One week passed away in dreary style. The 
asylum did not seem to be in any particular need 


214 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

of something to eat. This delay gave him time 
to think. The situation was critical. The brick 
walls were of unusual height. He felt assured 
that he could see Madge. The feat of getting her 
out of the dismal place was a hard nut to crack. 
In vain he cudgeled his brain to invent some means 
of escape. He ran over the well-thumbed day- 
book that had once done duty for an assessor’s 
office. Monday was the time that the institution 
would send an order. He learned this from 
the handwriting of the matron on the order file. 
He even remembered the extra flourishes 
of the capital letters, and the peculiar way of 
forming the I’s, which were started from a dot 
on the ruled line and made with an upward stroke 
of the pen. The matron was in charge ; there 
could be no doubt of the truth. He waited im- 
patiently for Monday to come. In the meantime 
he kept from sight of the curious by remaining 
in the stable. He ended up the corn in the cob, 
and arranged the oat sacks in neat piles against 
the sawed sides of the slabs, and trimmed the 
horse’s mane and the fetlocks that were a curios- 
ity. 

When the detective made everything neat 
about the barn, he climbed over the oldTashioned 
stake-and-rider rail fence, and made his way to the 
forest that was across the meadow. He strolled 
along through the depths of woods and came out; 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 215 

on the other side, just as he had done years ago. 
The paths that were then only out of the grass 
had been washed until they were gullies. The 
brown clay was as hard as a rock, and the hardy 
wild flowers that crowned their banks made the 
rescue more feasible. It was ten miles to the 
station that adorned the second railroad, where 
a newer town had grown up with a mushroom 
rapidity. Following these clay washouts it would 
be an easy matter for Madge arid himself to es- 
cape. 

wonder,” he reflected, “ if the old drain 
pipe at the asylum is intact. It was a neglected 
affair when I was here. The iron grating must 
be pretty well rusted by this time. If Madge is 
in any condition to travel, the rescue will be easy 
to execute; if she is not, then I must act more 
boldly. The bars of the drain are wrought iron. 
The old rusted crow-bar that leans against the 
rear stable wall has been there so long that its 
very existence is forgotten; the weeds have con- 
cealed it from sight.” 

“ It will answer my purpose. To-night, I will 
pry the bars far enough apart to crawl through. 
It will be an easy matter to replace them when 
my object is accomplished.” As he slept in the 
stable no one would be able to track him. Lit- 
tle fear he had, for the town marshal was the first 
one in and the last one out. 


2i6 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

When the orderly town was enveloped in dark- 
ness, he slid down the hay and gathered up the 
rusted lever. He did not go through the streets 
but circled the suburbs with considerate caution. 
Once in the shadow of the wall of the asylum, his 
confidence returned; he felt his way to the east 
wall and stopped at the culvert that was choked 
with weeds. 

He counted the iron bars that formed the grat- 
ing and selected three nearest the end because 
they were longer. When the opening was large 
enough to admit his body he crawled through. 
The drain had not been used for years; for this 
reason he made his exit from the curbing and 
stood in the middle of the court-yard that was 
enclosed by a double wall. By the starlight he 
could see the galleries above. Some irresistible 
impulse made him bold. There was no vigilant 
watch-dog to growl and thus give the alarm. He 
pulled off his shoes and crept along the floor to 
the second tier of cells. As Madge was harm- 
less, he reasoned that she would be in one of the 
two larger and more comfortable rooms. One 
apartment was empty; he could see this by the 
moon’s rays that made squares on the polished 
floor. A strange feeling came over him. He 
steadied himself by leaning for a moment on the 
door jamb. By the uncertain light he saw the 
bed in one corner. Someone was in the bed. To 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 21/ 

arouse her was a dangerous proceeding. If she 
screamed, then his deeply-laid plan would end in 
failure. 

She was conscious of some feeling that science 
can not explain, and sat up in bed to listen. The 
suspense was terrible. If he advanced towards 
her, terror would cause her to give the alarm. 
If he delayed, he would not have such another 
chance. In a low breath he repeated the name 
of “ Harry,” then he whispered again, “ Harry 
wants to see you.” 

The effect was magical. Without a moment’s 
hesitation she glided to the entrance whence the 
whispering proceeded. “ Madge,” he said softly, 
“ I come to take you to Harry; do not make a 
noise; be quiet and follow me.” When the girl 
came into the moonlight, and they were safely out 
of the walls, the detective turned to look at her. 
The tangled, unkempt hair almost hid her face 
that had not been washed for a month. She re- 
minded him of a beautiful gypsy. Her large black 
eyes were dull. She walked and acted like one 
that had been hypnotized. She did not say yea, 
nor nay, but was as obedient as a child to his 
every wish. 

“ My God,” he thought, they are carrying 
out the Vampire’s orders to the letter. She, this 
child, is drugged with morphine ; it is providential 
for me that it is so, because I can handle her so 


2i8 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

easily.” The girl waited until her guide had 
forced back the bars to their original position. 
He did not return the crowbar to the stable, but 
buried it in the bottom of the ravine where the 
first rain would pack the dirt around it. They 
crept along ravines, and across meadows. Their 
journey was painfully slow, because the tired girl 
rested often. He carried her in his arms, and 

thus they made their way to J , and were 

•fortunate enough to catch the midnight train for 
the city. 

“ Come, Madge, my good girl, let me tie up 
your hair. I have here an old piece of a pocket 
comb. I will smooth down your hair in front. 
You are a good child, and must look your best 
when Harry comes to see you. How fortunate 
it is for me that this poor patient is unconscious. 
We have attracted no attention. I will avoid the 
hack stand, and get off on the off side of the coach. 
The electric light befriended the detective and the 
girl. For a time the surroundings were in total 
darkness. Cautiously they sped from street to 
street, until the station was many blocks away. 
The child leaned heavily upon his arm. The ef- 
fects of the morphine buoyed her up. They 
stood at the side door of the retreat, whence 
Madge was taken, as the attendants were up and 
about (because the morning star was growing 
brighter every moment). He placed the child in 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


219 

the shade of the wall and summoned the matron 
to the side door. 

“Who is it?” she asked, in a doubtful tone 
of voice. “ This is no time to call respectable peo- 
ple from their beds. Why did you not come 
around by the front entrance ? ” 

“ I have rescued Madge from a morphine asy- 
lum. Can you arrange it so that we can get her 
in without detection? She is drugged with mor- 
phine now.” 

“ Wait a moment, I will see if the way is clear. 
Depend upon me; she shall be under my especial 
charge in a part of the building where no one ever 
comes. I will give her up to no one; trust me 
for that, and I will be a mother to her. The offi- 
cers came while you were gone but, of course, 
did not find her.” 

“ How fortunate,” the detective replied. “ I 
will make a deposit, to-morrow. I want her to 
look her best when Harry calls; here is his pic- 
ture; do not let another person see her.” 

Mr. Thompson was tired when he reached 
the rooms of Harry. He inserted the night latch 
key, and without awakening the sleepers, resumed 
his ordinary garb of a professor and waited for 
daylight to break. The comfortable armchair 
was too seductive. He slept until the shake on 
his arm aroused him. Harry was so astonished 
that he could not for a moment speak. 


220 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


Where in the name of all that is wonderful, 
did you come from, Mr. Thompson? I thought 
it was your ghost that had returned from the 
polar regions. Claud feared that they had again 
attempted your life.” 

“ I caught the trail of Madge and followed it 
to the end. She is in a secure pace.” The de- 
tective laid his hand affectionately on Harry’s arm 
and continued: “You are the only one in the 
world that can restore the poor child to reason. 
I hope you have not gone too far with Blanche. 
I have your word of honor that you will carry 
out to the letter the promises you made to me 
more than a year ago. Remember, I do not ex- 
pect impossibilities. If Madge has fallen, you 
are a free man. The girl’s terrible persecution 
must appeal to your sense of manhood. Go to 
see her often, my boy. I want you to feel, and 
to know, the love that shames dissimulation is a 
link to bind her struggling reason to the mind, 
where you are king.” 

“ Then I must give up the dream of a lifetime, 
give up Blanche and the immediate prospects of 
a partnership, for Madge, who may never regain 
her faculties, and thus lose both ends of the op- 
portunity. You are asking a great deal of me, 
Mr. Thompson.” 

“ How can you wed Blanche, when her father 
has made a wreck of your good name? Every hour 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 221 

the ghosts of his evil deeds will come back to him 
when you are his son-in-law.” Thompson was 
sorry he made such a remark, because he feared 
that Harry would decline the merchant’s liberal 
offer to re-employ the man he (the merchant) had 
so foully wronged. 

“ It all seems so strange to me, Mr. Thomp- 
son, that I should be placed in such a position in 
the game of life. Some turn up trump cards and 
win; some hold from the same deck all of the 
lower cards and lose. You were right; I feel 
what it is to be under the ban of the slanderers’ 
tongue. I never imagined that I looked like a 
murderer, yet people saw in my face a resem- 
blance to that type of faces. Especially was this 
the case when my beard had grown and my hair 
was uncombed. There is nothing else to do but 
take the position, as Claud is on his last legs so 
far as his practice is concerned.” 

Mr. Thompson wanted to press the young man 
to his heart, and tell him what a bright future was 
hidden behind the somber clouds of misfortune, 
but he could not. He could not tell him of all 
the strange vicissitudes of a detective’s existence, 
when the future might slip from his possession 
and his hopes melt into nothingness. He raised 
his eyes from the carpet to meet the honest gaze 
of the accountant. There was an interchange of 


222 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

thought that these two persons understood, and 
both remained silent. 

“When do you go to work in the office? I 
think it is best for you to keep your thoughts upon 
your books; then you will not brood upon the 
injustice of your fellowman. Do not encourage 
Blanche, nor commit your better judgment to the 
whisperings of a false honor ; that may wreck your 
future happiness. We can appreciate the noble- 
ness of this merchant’s daughter, who braved the 
dangers of social ostracization to visit you while 
you were in prison, and now deems it an honor to 
walk by your side, in the very face of public opin- 
ion. She is a noble woman, Harry ; you have high 
honor on one side, and misfortune* on the other. 
Which will you select ? ” 

“ You say that I am the medium that has the 
power to restore to Madge her reason? That 
my name can recall the faculties that are dormant ? 
You tell me that she will outlive the horrors of that 
awful night and be the Madge of old ? ” 

“ That is what they say at the asylum. 
Promise me that you will at least wait until this 
point is settled.” 

“ I will do as you wish, and thus lose, through 
my endeavors to cure the little playmate of my 
childhood, the love that is so sincere, the love of 
Blanche. Can you ask more?” 

“ Will YOU go to see her now? Poor Madge, 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 223 

when I was stealing her away from the asylum 
your name seemed to be a magnet. Thus I drew 
her to my side, and together we made our es- 
cape/' 

While the young man made an extra toilet, 
the detective sank back in the great arm chair 
and waited for the departure. “ Harry,” he said, 
“ I will wait here until you return ; make my 
heart glad and bring good news. The matron 
has your picture, so there will be no difficulty in 
making yourself known; stay, perhaps it would 
be best to consult the matron; the shock of meet- 
ing you might be too much for her nervous sys- 
tem.” 

“ I will follow her directions implicitly,” re- 
plied Harry, as he went slowly down the steps. 
“ Thompson, no one knows but you the impor- 
tance of this meeting. A great throbbing of my 
pulse makes me weak. I will take a nerve stead- 
ier from this black bottle. How little sometimes 
turns the wheel of destiny. I am satisfied that 
Madge knows this double of Harry’s. She will 
in her half-lucid moments reveal more than I 
could find out in a month. I will at least note 
his name, and, perhaps, get a clue to his haunts. 

Madam V has not been with him since that 

night when she drugged the rich bachelor, around 
at the club. How quietly this owl works, and 


224 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

never leaves a track behind. He is a good one 
if he can get away from Thompson.” He dozed 
off and was revolving all these points in his hazy 
brain when a touch on his arm awakened him. 

The intruder was Harry, whose face was white 
as marble. “ Ah ! Mr. Thompson, Madge is in 
a wretched condition. The sight of me almost 
threw her into a spasm. She persisted in calling 

me Jean D . I do not wish to go again; 

the sight of the poor girl unmanned me.” 


CHAPTER XV. 


THE WAXFACE MAN. 

‘‘ Good ! I expected thus much, my boy. 
Better this than an imbecile mind that is a blank. 
Do not discontinue the noble work. I have more 
hopes of Madge than ever. Did she say any- 
thing about his lounging places or speak of the 
other woman? This is the man that has been 
doing all the crimes and you have been shoulder- 
ing the grave responsibility. Try and remember 
what she said because it is important.” 

“ Here is a love letter she gave to the matron 
for me, and yet she does not want to see me. 
I don’t understand it all.” 

The detective took the note in his hands and 
scrutinized it closely. It was a strange piece of 
composition. The jumble of words was mean- 
ingless; here was a sentence almost completed, 
then a succession of curved lines. “ I must study 
this puzzle. To-morrow, when you go I will be 
there also. I feel very much encouraged.” 

When Harry was gone he lighted the lamp 
and pondered long on the bit of paper where rea- 


226 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

son struggled to reassert itself. “ Here are some 
figures, too ; let me see what I can make of them. 
I will place these numbers in every conceivable 
position and try to run down this villain.^’ 

The puzzle must be unraveled. Ah ! here an 
idea comes to me. This arrangement gives me 

No. street. No. . I will see what 

the place looks like; no harm in trying; it may 
mean much and it may mean little. He did not 
go to his boarding house but ate supper at the 
nearest restaurant and walked briskly, for the 
reason that the heavy meal was giving him a full 
feeling that resembled dyspepsia. “Well! well! 
quite a home fitted with every luxury that money 
can buy.” 

He crept up to the silver door plate and spelled 
out the name. A grunt of satisfaction came from 
his throat as he muttered : “through the shattered 
brain of Madge, the man who has perhaps wrought 
her ruin, is in my power at last. I shall yet live 
to see him dangle from the end of a rope. I am 

almost sure he was with Madam V when 

the bachelor was put to sleep forever by the dop- 
ing process. I must find out what the Vampire’s 
reasons were for this murder. It will do no harm 
to anyone if I stand here and discover the class 
of persons that visit this night-owl. It would 
be dangerous to shadow the house in the day 
time; all my work must be done at night.” 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


227 

It was, perhaps, between ten and eleven at 
night when his long vigil was disturbed by the 
approach of a female figure. Her face was thick- 
ly veiled; her erect carriage and energetic step 
made him think it was the Vampire bent on some 
errand of mischief. 

She pulled the door bell with a nervous jerk 
that plainly indicated that matters of importance 
were uppermost in her mind. She gave a second 
and a more vigorous ring that was unanswered. 
She drew from her pocket a night latch key and 
crept guiltily into the hall. Evidently the person 
she wished to see was not within, for she came 
to the head of the iron stairway outside and look- 
ed up and down the street in a bewildered man- 
ner and started to go, then came back. 

A figure turned the corner quickly, and as it 
approached the woman, Thompson gazed for the 
third time at the colorless marble face of the man 
that ruined Harry. How the detective’s fingers 
worked nervously to be at the man’s throat. 

Not yet,” he thought; “ I must fasten this crime 
on him good and hard. No mistakes, Thomp- 
son, no mistakes ! ” 

Why were you not in the house,” the woman 
exclaimed in a petulant tone of voice. “ The 
devil is to play. We have been outwitted by 
someone from England. If that sneaking detec- 
tive were alive, I would certainly say that it was 


228 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

the work of his hands, but his death is a fixed 
fact because I know it to be true.” 

“ How do you know it to be true? ” he asked, 
in a subdued whisper. “ Come, tell us your rea- 
son for saying so; I would rather see the devil 
than that man.” 

The viper dared not tell this man that she 
was married; that her husband was a ruffian and 
far beneath her in a social way; that he was a 
sea captain that Blanche’s father always kept 
on a foreign cruise, for reasons well known to the 
viper. Then she said, slowly: “since we are 
partners in crime, I do not mind telling you that 
I have a husband that murdered this detective 
to get him out of the way; therefore, I know that 
he is dead, because my husband never fails when 
such work is on hand.” 

With an oath, he said : “ don’t talk so loud ; 
this is no place to tell such things. What about 
the girl’s escape from the asylum? It is more 
important than the murder of this detective. 
The game is lost if we do not find her; all our 
years of plotting and scheming will be for naught. 
Already they suspect that something is wrong. 
That old shark of a lawyer must draw up some 
papers to smooth over the difficulties. It is get- 
ting too hot for me; I think the climate of Paris 
is better for my health.” 

“ You will leave me here to fight it out? And 


THOMPSON,, THE DETECTIVE. 22g 

if you escape, and they arrest me, what then, good 
sir?” 

“ You hypnotized me. When you get the 
money you can come over, too, and help me en- 
joy it. But what do you propose to do about your 
niece ? How in the world did it happen ? ” 

“No one seems to know. She disappeared so 
mysteriously that the matron is dumbfounded. 
A tramp came to the inn and worked around for 
three or four days and disappeared at the same 
time that Madge did. Nothing was disturbed 
about the asylum. There is positively no clue to 
start a tracer. Tim took her out there ; you must 
find this man without delay.” 

“ I will go at once. There is no time to lose. 
You should have put her out of the way as the 
lawyer told you.” 

“ Why did you not do so yourself? You are 
as much interested as myself. I have given you 
the lion's share, and never a cent have I paid 
the lawyer.” She said this with some warmth, 
because she loved this man who was content to 
live on the wages of sin. 

“Never paid the lawyer?” he exclaimed, in 
surprise. “ You are in his power, woman; he can 
blow on us at any time. This is worse than I 
expected. I would not be surprised if he was the 
prime mover in this abduction.” 

“ I have him in my power, just as I have you ; 


230 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

one goes, all go. You have committed one mur- 
der; another will make no difference to you one 
way or the other.” 

“You are a she-devil,” he hissed in her ear; 
“ you have not one grain of pity for your niece ; 
you are shielding her for some concealed purpose 
and will give us the slip, some day.” 

She laughed a wicked laugh, and sneered: 
“What made you so smart? Anyway, it is too 
late for any of us to draw back now; you must 
make some money to pay the legal shark, do you 
hear? Don’t stand there with your head down 
like a whipped schoolboy; go and find Tim at 
once. If you cannot find him at his hack stand, 
go to his den and give him the word; he will ad- 
mit you, and know who sent you.” 

“ I was going to the club,” he remarked, “ but 
as you say, this matter is serious and needs at- 
tention at once. It will be difficult to find the 
place, and it is as much as a man’s life is worth to 
go into that part of the city. You say it is the 
second house from the corner of the alley, and has 
a half-story with a queer roof?” 

“ You cannot possibly miss it if you tried. 
Give two knocks and count four; then give two 
knocks more and wait; then one knock, and you 
will be admitted. Question him closely, and if 
he refuses to answer tell him to come to me.” 

“ Shall I hire a hack? ” he inquired. “ If the 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 2^1 

distance is not great I would prefer to walk; 
there are too many cooks making this broth, and 
it is apt to be overdone. Where shall I meet 
you?’^ 

“ I will wait here until you come back.” She 
went into the house, and the Night Owl, without 
making haste, walked fifteen blocks and turned 
down a blind alley. He traversed this to the end, 
where it led into a narrow, crooked street. The 
house was not hard to find. He stood on the 
little portico and rapped softly as he was directed. 
A bloated face came to the door; it was a woman, 
whose sharp, gray eyes looked him through and 
through. He repeated, softly, the countersign, 
and was shown into a side room that contained 
a table in the center, with chairs around it as if 
some game had been played. The odor of whis- 
key and tobacco spit made him feel sick. He 
started to open one of the windows. A hand was 
laid on his arm and an ugly look that was not to 
be mistaken, caused the Night Owl to lower the 
window and sit down. 

Tim came in with a slick, officious bearing that 
plainly said : it is a pleasure to be truculent so 
long as it pays me.” His extreme caution would 
have been comical but for the fact that caution 
was his best capital. He meekly remarked : 
“ Who followed you ; you did not have the sense 


232 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


to look around; we have, your honor, sharp eyes 
on the lookout.” 

“ I noticed a man in dark clothes several times 
but have no idea that he was trailing me.” 

The detective was aware that these same sharp 
eyes were following his movements. As he 
could not hear what these two worthies said, he 
drew heavily on his wits in order to throw them 
off of their guard. The street was poorly lighted ; 
for this circumstance he was profoundly thankful. 
It was the work of a moment to turn his coat in- 
side out, and his cap also. He slipped his glasses 
over his eyes and looked inquiringly along until 
he had cleared the street, and reached the main 
thoroughfare, where he was lost in the crowd of 
pedestrians. 

Tim and the night owl breathed easier as the 
inquisitive visitor passed out of the alley. They 
did not see the shadower turn the coat that was 
made especially for such occasions, or the cap 
also that was made for a double purpose. As the 
man that followed the night owl was dressed in 
dark clothes, the subject was changed to a sub- 
ject that was to be handled gingerly, because the 
visitor could not accuse Tim of acting in bad 
faith in his own house, and he really wondered 
why he was such a fool as to come on such an 
errand. He assumed a tone of carelessness as he 
drawled out; 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 233 

‘‘ Tim, the crazy girl has been taken from the 
asylum where you placed her, and the Madam 
thinks you had a hand in the escape. Is it true, 
or is it not true? She accuses you of bad faith; 
tell me what you know.” 

The dazed hackman looked at the Night Owl 
in astonishment. “ It is impossible,” he said ; 
“ no one in the village knew that she had been put 
in the asylum, unless it was the man that drove 
the carryall, and he was too sleepy to see any- 
thing. The Madam has done it herself to beat 
us in the game; she is a shrewd one and don’t you 
forget it; she and the lawyer are playing a little 
side-game of their own.” 

“ You are sure, Tim, that you know nothing 
about it? Her escape is a godsend if the Eng- 
lish have no hand in it, because they cannot serve 
the legal notice.” 

The Night Owl shook hands with Tim and 
walked quickly out of the alley to the same busy 
street where the detective was waiting for him. 
Both boarded a car and alighted at the same cor- 
ner. The shadowed man did not notice the man 
that shadowed him. The loss of his handsome 
gold watch and chain made him nervous, conse- 
quently he was in no mood to talk to the Vam- 
pire, who waited for his arrival with extreme im- 
patience. 

When he was in the presence of the woman 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


234 

he growled : “ your miserable striker stole my 
watch and chain before my nose, and he knows 
nothing of the abduction ; he has done his part of 
the dirty work.” 

As they were standing under the balcony, their 
criminations and recriminations were of no value 
to Thompson, who glided into the shadows of the 
tall buildings, and walked briskly to the rendez- 
vous, where he changed his reversible suit for the 
Prince Albert coat and the vest and trousers to 
match. He had been absent from the boarding 
house ten days. The curiosity of the madam was 
a factor in his plans that he had not counted 
on. Nothing escaped her prying eyes. He no- 
ticed this the moment he Entered his room. 
Every letter had been overhauled, some of the 
slides to his microscope had been handled, and 
they had been handled by a professional, because 
the thumb and forefinger marks on the plates 
were on the extreme ends of the slides. The 
digits evidently revealed the truth that the one 
who examined them was a chemist, because the 
use of reagents had deepened the diminutive fur- 
row marks of the skin. 

“ She has taken these slides to a real chemist. 
I am thankful that she did take them, because 
the slides were exactly what I represented them 
to be. I displayed them for this purpose, know- 
ing that she would do just as she did. I will no- 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


235 


tice how she acts; if she is indifferent then I will 
go on with my investigation; otherwise, I will 
give her further lessons in the science. My let- 
ters have been overhauled. I baited the trap 
to catch the mice, and again I am the gainer 
thereby. Poor fool ! does she think she can 
shield her crimes behind the power of wealth? 
Such crimes, sooner or later, become their own 
executioners.” 

“ I do not care to learn who this chemist is, 
but I do care to know who paid him for this in- 
vestigation. All of these expenses drift back to 
this merchant, who thrives on the misfortune of 
others. I will make a note of it and trust to Har- 
ry’s good sense to help me in this strait.” 


CHAPTER XVL 


THOMPSON HYPNOTIZED. 

He heard the madam come hurriedly up to her 
room, and he also heard the rustle of feminine 
garments as they were cast aside. He heard the 
orders to the maid, and the hurrying of feet up 
and down stairs; he heard her ask if the pro- 
fessor was in. For this reason he adjusted a low- 
power objective and was observing some fine 
specimens of algae, when the Viper came in with- 
out knocking and in her most sympathetic tone of 
voice saluted him with: “You dear professor, 
where have you been? I was so anxious about 
you I could not sleep. Don’t you see how ner- 
vous I have gotten? If you had stayed away an- 
other week I would have died. I am so glad you 
are here once more.” 

“ If I had known it would have been the cause 
of your death I would certainly stayed away. 
This American experience is so singular, that a 
poor lone man has to be careful in these up-to-date 
times. Are all landladies like yourself?” He 
asked this with an amused smile that disconcert- 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


237 


ed her. She expected him to show some ill-tem- 
per, but he did not. With some show of warmth, 
she continued : “ I have been warming your 

meals with painstaking care; if you were going 
away you should have told me; I will make no 
deductions for absence. Sir, you can count on 
this; it is a rule of the house.’’ 

I am not complaining, madam ; you have my 
board in advance ; besides, I give you less trouble 
than any boarder in the house.” 

Why do you not want to tell me when you 
are going to be absent? The other guests do 
this; then I know just how much to order for the 
table. I pay you particular attention because you 
are a star boarder.” 

“ I shall try and prove to you that I am a star 
boarder, madam, but I will not tell you at any 
time when I go, or when I come. Tell me, now, 
where do you go, when you go out, if you exact 
such information from me? I shall expect you 
to give an account of yourself. It is my pleasure 
to enjoy myself in my own way so long as I do 
not distress my conscience with unlawful deeds, 
r am studying your American science, and will 
return to Europe when my course is finished.” 

She winced when he spoke of a conscience, be- 
cause hers had become so hardened by crime that 
she looked on man as her especial property. To 
ruin and betray mankind was her greatest pleas- 


238 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

ure, therefore those who knew her well named 
her The Vampire. He knew what she wanted 
to ask ; he knew why she was making passes across 
his face. His strength of mind was a fort she 
could not reduce to submission. What queer 
movements of the hands are those you are mak- 
ing? Are you trying to hypnotize me?” 

‘‘ I was just trying to see if I could; just for 
fun, you know.” She said this with a little art- 
less laugh that came from a lost soul. There 
was so much venom in it, all of the pent up rage 
of a devil rippled in the effort. Then she looked 
more serious and added : “ you are the strangest 
man I ever saw; you do not care for anybody 
in the world outside of that old brass instrument, 
and your books; this is why I like you. If you 
cared for me, and I could use you, I would despise 
you. The man has succumbed to my power,” 
she said. 

The look of a demon came to her face. Like 
a serpent that was coiling around its prey, she 
glided towards the victim that sat upright in his 
seat, and stared at the woman with awful eyes. 
It reminded her of the stare of a blind man, whose 
eyes were open and fixed, staring at awful noth- 
ing. Even the Vampire was afraid to approach 
him, but something in her mind made her move- 
ments cat-like. As she drew near, and nearer, 
she ran her hand into the side pocket of his coat 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


239 

where he kept his long leathern pocketbook ; for- 
tunately he had locked it in his other trunk. In 
a moment he grasped her arm and hurled her 
across the room ; she arose, panting and pale. 

“ My God ! what are you trying to do, rob 
me ? ” he exclaimed, excitedly. “ I do not know 
what this means.” He drew his hand mechan- 
ically across his face as one whose mind was in a 
dazed condition. “ I shall get out of this house 
and I will have you arrested for attempted rob- 
bery from the person.” 

“ Do not do this ; I am a woman, and so weak ; 
forgive me this time ; I won’t do so any more ; 
please, sir, will you promise me?” 

“ What did you expect to find in my pocket- 
book, madam? I have no money, only a modest 
competency, enough to keep soul and body to- 
gether. I will forgive you this time, but don’t 
do it again.” 

“ I won’t ! I won’t ! ” she gratefully exclaim- 
ed. “ Oh ! sir, I thank you with all of my heart.” 
She said this with the penitential air of a saint, 
and hurried to her room. When the door closed 
behind her, she hissed : ‘‘ I wonder who this 

strange man is? I wonder if he was acting only, 
just as I was acting my part; but, oh! he looked 
so awfully at me, it made my blood run cold. It 
seemed that the confines of hell had sent him to 
me for a ghost of vengeance, yet he is a man in 


240 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

the flesh and blood and seemed human enough. 
It was my foolish fears; my nerves are so un- 
steady now.” She turned a flask of whiskey to 
her lips and drank a heavy draught, then went 
out to give her orders for the coming meal. 

When she had departed the detective laughed 
till his sides ached, as he said: “Well done for 
you, Thompson, with a ‘ p'/ quite an actor in 
your way. It was, indeed, fortunate that I left 
the precious evidence in my trunk ; my good sense 
told me that she would rob me in some way yet. 
I did not expect it to come in this wa}^ What 
an awful Vampire she is. I wonder who told 
her about my pocketbook, for^she went straight 
to the place where I keep it. We are playing a 
desperate game; especially is this the case with 
me, because I do not wish to flush the covey 
until I can bag them all.” 

No one at the supper table imagined for a 
moment that the calm-faced professor had pass- 
ed through such an ordeal. The stale jokes were 
laughed at ; now it was the butter, then it was 
some other article of diet. He noticed that the 
landlady had imbibed too much, for which reason 
he was thankful. Her drowsy appearance was 
a good piece of acting. He observed the quick 
glances that were now and then sent in his direc- 
tion. He also noted the hurried orders she gave 
to the waiters. She excused her absence from 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 24I 

the dining room and went to her room to lie 
down. 

The detective was not deceived by this excuse 
and awaited further developments. She glided 
down the back stairway and slipped through the 
blind alley to the street. He could hardly keep 
up with the rapid pace that carried her to the 
before-mentioned club, where she met the Night 
Owl coming down the steps. 

‘‘ Don’t go in there ; Jim D is in there ; 

I do not want to meet him. I owe him a debt 
of honor, namely, a gambling debt; he is dis- 
posed to be ugly about it. When is that money 
coming from over the pond? My luck is all at 
sea. I cant’ even hedge. Besides, your friend, 
the merchant, has rented the property that I 
thought would be mine, and I have to vacate.” 

“ You are out of luck. I have no sterling 
exchange to turn over to you, and cannot spare 
any from my house. Madge is still on the miss- 
ing list. Take it all in all, the outlook is not 
encouraging.” She drew nearer to him, and, in 
a whisper, said : “ Why not marry the merchant’s 

daughter? ” 

I feel like cursing you. I marry that sweet, 
pure girl, who loves the man I so deeply wrong- 
ed? You are a devil from hell.” 

All of the pent up anger of her heart burst 
forth as she hissed : “ I picked you up out of the 


242 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

gutter, dressed you up like a dandy, and helped 
you cheat at cards a hundred times, and now you 
use such language to me” 

“ Is this my only chance to recoup my miser- 
able luck ? ” he whined ; “ these luxuries come 
high, but I must have them. Tell me what to 
do; you know she loves this man with all of the 
ardor of her noble nature. She even visited him 
while he was in prison.” 

‘‘ In the first place, you must study Harry's 
walk and manner. I know it is hard for you to 
act the part of a gentleman.” 

“ You are right,” he muttered gloomily; “ how 
in the world I was so unfortunate as to come un- 
der the spell of your evil nature I swear I cannot 
tell. Well, what else am I to do? I owe her 
father a grudge.” 

“ Copy his manner of dressing, even to the 
ties he wears around his standing collars. You 
have the same tone of voice, speak more briskly, 
and, last of all, appear to be indifferent. You will 
have no difficulty in wooing this rich girl. Slip 
away and have the marriage ceremony perform- 
ed. When she is yours the old gentleman will 
come down handsomely; he will applaud the 
trick because he hates Harry.” 

“ Why should he hate that poor simpleton, 
who never wronged him? This is the dirtiest 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 243 

work of all, but my debts are pressing. I can- 
not and will not go to the wall.’' 

“ You know that it is human nature to hate 
those we have wronged. This is a strange world. 
While you are working the girl, I will blackmail 
the father; between the two, we should raise a 
stake, and it must be a fair divide. You must 
economize until I get my hands on that English 
money, then we will skip the country and enjoy 
the fruits of our labor.” 

“ What will I do with the girl after we are 
married ? ” 

“ You can drop her by the way; the real Har- 
ry can then step in and claim his own. Why do 
you look so sour? I will see to it that you get 
a marriage settlement.” 

“ There are some men noticing us across the 
street ; let me see you when the courting is on. 

Meet me in the Park, Saturday night, at 

ten o’clock, without fail. I will have some money 
for you.” 

“Have you no news from your niece?” 

“ The detective from the agency is hunting 
her up. If we find her you must represent the 
accountant again and toll her out where we can 
get hold of her once more. I have an asylum 
that will take care of this precious bit of human 
flesh. You are playing a star part in this thril- 


244 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

ling drama, that may turn into a miserable 
tragedy.’’ 

“Did you find out who your boarder was? 
You seemed to think that he was a detective in 
the disguise of a professor.” 

“ Too stupid to talk about. I tried to hypno- 
tize him, and frightened him out of his wits. The 
pocketbook was not there; I have been through 
everything.” 

“ And found no evidence? ” he asked. “ I am 
glad this phantom is out of the way; what would 
you have done if you had learned that he was a 
detective? ” 

“ I should have poisoned him. Do you think 
I am going to lose my chance at this fortune? 
Not much; I am not built that way.” 

“ Then we can work with perfect safety now 
that your suspicion is groundless. I will be at 
the appointed place and report the progress I am 
making.” 

“ There you go, you scoundrels,” the detec- 
tive muttered. “ You ought to have irons on 
you now. How this piece of villainy plays into 
my hand! It would serve this merchant right, 
but I cannot see this innocent girl go under; she 
is not responsible for her father’s sins. I will 
not lose sight of this Night Owl for a moment. 
He will take advantage of Harry’s attentions to 
Madge and press his suit. Blanche has never 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 245 

seen this creature, and will fall an easy prey to 
his deceptive allurements.’^ 

“ This is Harry’s afternoon at the asylum. 
I will move in that direction and note the change 
that will make our patient better or worse. If 
she recalls that awful night, her condition will be 
hopeless. If she is simply approached in a nat- 
ural manner, the shock will be reduced to a mini- 
mum. I must reach there before my boy does 
and let his presence be known gradually.” He 
was admitted; without loss of time he made his 
wishes known to the matron. 

The neat appearance of the maiden was in 
contrast with the dirt and squalor of the neglect- 
ed object of his affection. Her listless air was 
a reproach to him. He led her gently by the 
hand and seated her qpon a rustic seat where the 
shade was grateful. “ Look into my eyes, 
Madge; that is a good child; don’t you know 
me? Madge, I took you out of that dreadful 
place at your old home and brought you here so 
that Harry, your playmate, could come to see 
you.” It was some catchy tone of voice that 
aroused her; perhaps the long ago came to her 
and her eyes filled with tears. 

A glance of recognition rewarded his patient 
effort, then she relapsed into a stage of melan- 
choly where memory was struggling with shatter- 
ed reason. Again she looked at him with a puz- 


246 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

zled expression that had intelligence in every 
stare. She sat closer to his side as if claiming 
his protection. 

“ Madge, would you like to see Harry ? He 
is coming to you now; be a good girl and shake 
hands with him.” 

There was no gleam of recognition in the mel- 
ancholy expression that was fixed for a moment 
on the pale face of Harry. His incarceration in 
prison had whitened a naturally colorless skin. 
So many disappointments had numbed his feel- 


ings that the sight of Madge, after so many years -7 

of separation, did not stir the inner depths of his J 

manhood. The sorrow of- his soul was touched 5 

as he took the poor girl’s hand in his own, and f 

while he stroked it gently, he said : “ Madge, i 

do not look down ; I am Harry, the one who used \ 

to be your playmate; don’t you know I used to [ 

bring you wild flowers? You laughed at me v 

then because I used to put soap on my hair, and f 


turn it under at the ends, and then let it dry 
until it was like a cushion; don’t you remember 
this, sweetheart?” 

The tears slowly gathered in her listless e3^es. 
Now and then her face would light up with intel- 
ligence. The words of Harry had evidently stir- 
red the depths of long ago, because she patted 
him on the cheek, and brushed back the stray i 
locks of his hair in an odd, mechanical way, that 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 247 

gave him hope. Then she ran her fingers over 
his shapely nose, like a person who was blind, 
and who was struggling with some inner emotion. 

Then the horror of the last meeting would 
make her shrink away from him, yet the old af- 
fection would reassert itself, and she would lay 
her head on his two hands and hide the tears. 

“Do not check her tears, Harry; they are 
the safety valves to relieve the overburdened soul. 
I feel so much encouraged by this interview. 
Time, and your affection, will make a permanent 
cure. Speak of the past; she recalls those days, 
imperfectly as yet, still they do come to her and 
reason begins where memory ends.” 

“ Madge, do you remember the bunnie I gave 
you, and how he bit your finger?” She drew 
her hand quickly from his and held the wounded 
finger just as she had done years ago. “ There ! 
there ! let me kiss it and it will be well.” 

“ My God, Harry, she has been hypnotized 
by that Vampire, and the shock unsettled her 
mind — the shock of that awful night; but the 
work of that infamous devil comes unconsciously 
back through the malady that afflicts her. There 
is hope, Harry, there is hope, and my mind is 
relieved on this one point. Keep up the good 
work and happiness shall yet be yours.” 


248 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

We must go now, Madge. We will come 
again ; do you want us to come again ? ” 

She clung to Harry with all of the abandon of 
a child. The bright, happy look that came to her 
face while he was present faded into the same 
mournful expression that had been habitual for 
months. The matron gave her some sedative 
powders and conducted her to her room, that was 
adjoining the matron’s. 


CHAPTER XVII. 


BLANCHE IN DANGER. 

Harry/' the detective suggested, “ we must 
not be seen together. You make your way to 
your rooms by one route, and I will go by another. 
If I am not there do not look for me, for I have 
some duty that is important to accomplish.*’ As 
this was the second day that he had shadowed the 
Night Owl, and the meeting in the park was fixed 
for the following night, he felt reasonably cer- 
tain that this scoundrel would pay Blanche a 
visit before the moon was up, because the en- 
closure of the merchant prince would be shadowed 
by the trees and foliage. It was a curious study 
to Mr. Thompson as he passed unobserved into 
the park. 

“ I wonder,” he meditated, “ if this merchant’s 
daughter will know the difference, or rather feel 
the difference, between these two men; both so 
much alike that they could be taken for twins; 
yet, how unlike in character and disposition.” 
He did not have to wait long. In some manner 
the Night Owl had managed to communicate with 


250 


THOMPSON, THE DE'TECTIVE. 


Blanche ; he had Harry’s trick of throwing a small 
pebble at the window. 

The scoundrel ! ” Thompson exclaimed. 
‘‘ He has been lying in wait for Claud, to kill him. 
He must have been the one that struck my friend 
such a murderous blow from behind. I can re- 
call it all now. I hope Blanche’s father did not 
hire this miserable assassin to do the dirty work. 
Here comes the poor, deluded girl; I will creep 
closer and listen.” 

‘‘Is that you, Harry?” the maiden said in a 
startled whisper. “ I received your note ; your 
hand must have been shaky when you wrote it. 
Somehow I don’t feel that.it is you; come into 
the light and let me see your face.” A puzzled 
expression came to her eyes as she remarked: 
“ Somehow, Harry, I ain’t glad to see you ; not 
as glad as I used to be; I don’t know what has 
come over me, and besides this Harry’s love has 
never stepped beyond the bonds of friendship. 
If you are him, you chill me more than ever; 
come some other night, perhaps I will feel bet- 
ter.” 

“ Blanche,” he repeated softly, “ why do you 
address me thus? I came to make a proposal to 
you, to-night ; come, we will get married at once ; 
the church is only four squares from here; do 
you doubt my love for you? Is this not a proof 
of my affection? Could you ask more?” 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 25I 

She again stared at him with an incredulous 
expression and remained silent. A nameless 
dread made her shiver, yet she could not tell why. 
“Harry,” she said, “I used to love you; some- 
how I have changed. It may be your indifference 
has brought this about. I will not go with you 
to the church. Give me time to think it all over. 
Father’s troubles are running me mad. I believe 
I am losing my mind under the strain. Don’t 
come to see me any more because father does not 
like you.” 

“ If I will gain his consent will you promise 
to marry me? I think you are mistaken when 
you say he does not like me. Is he in the house ? ” 

“No! no! don’t come; he has forbidden me 
to speak to you, and yet he sees you in the office 
every day.” Then a hope came to her, for she 
continued : “ Come, I will show you the way.” 

As she ushered him into the presence of the 
merchant a faint smile came to her lips. She 
introduced the young man to her father by say- 
ing: “Papa, look up from your work; here is 
Harry; he stands before you as a suitor for my 
hand. I know you will not refuse him for my 
sake. We have loved each other very long; let 
us make up and be friends.” 

Mr. raised his eyes from the trial bal- 

ance he was scanning. The expression of his 
face was a study. He knew that Harry was in 


252 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

the office because he had just come from there. 
Then the truth dawned upon him. With a help- 
less movement of his arms he bowed his head 
and groaned. ‘‘ Daughter,” he said, “ leave us 
alone for half an hour, then you can come back.” 

“ Did the Madam put you up to this ? ” the 
merchant asked. “ It is just like her. You piti- 
ful scoundrel, to come to me and ask me for the 
hand of my child. My degradation is complete. 
Are you in earnest? True, she has never seen 
you, and you are wooing her in the name of my 
bookkeeper. I see it all. This marriage shall 
never be, if I have to go to prison.” 

“ I must have money, . Mr. . As you 

know, they are getting suspicious of us over in 
England. We did not receive the last piece of 
sterling exchange.” 

“ You lie, you scoundrel; the Madam gave you 
the largest part of it, and you know it. You are 
systematically blackmailing me. It is bleed, 
bleed, until I will be a pauper myself.” 

“How will you help yourself?” One word 
from the Madam and myself, and to disgrace you 
go. Make me a deed to the house I was living 
in and I will say no more about it. Your daugh- 
ter shall go free. You are the owner of houses, 
stocks, merchandise; what is such a sum to you? 
Nothing.” 

“ I will think of it and give you an answer 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 253 

later. Will you sign an agreement to leave the 
country and go to Europe if I will sell the prop- 
erty and hand you over the money? ” 

“ It will suit me excellently well, if you will 
send it in yearly installments. I will give you my 
address in Paris. How long will it take to sell 
the house and lot? ” the Night Owl inquired. 

“ I have had no bids as yet. Or, if you would 
prefer it, I will fill you out a check for a thousand 
dollars; then you will not have to wait until it 
is sold. Does this suit you?” 

“When can I get the check? Let it be so. 
I owe some gambling debts that are pressing me. 
Would it be convenient for you to fill out the 
check now?” 

“ Yes, sit down.” While he was making the 
check the merchant thought of the money he 
had already handed over to the Viper. The 
thought of putting them out of the way by foul 
means was a prompting from the devil. With pa- 
tient resignation he handed the Night Owl the 
money and dismissed him with a secret curse. 

Blanche became impatient at the delay and 
entered. “Where is Harry?” she asked. “I 
did not see him go out. What did he say, and 
what did you say? Have you consented to our 
union, my father?” 

How much he despised himself for the 
hypocrisy that made his life a living lie. He would 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


254 

have given every dollar of his wealth to be a boy 
again — to feel that the little he then earned was 
the honest wages of toil. This noble girl at his 
side was a silent reproach to his conscience. He 
turned to her and exclaimed : “ Blanche, he had 

no money to support you; he has reconsidered 
the offer of marriage and will wait, so matters 
stand as they did before this conversation. I 
will gladly give my consent to your marriage with 
Harry when the time arrives; so, go along, my 
child, I have some work to do.” 

“ How happy you have made me, papa. 
Somehow I did not love Harry, to-night. His 
very presence chilled me; next time he comes I 
will like him better.” She kissed her father good 
night and turned to see his frightened face star- 
ing at her. 

“ When she was gone the unhappy man moved 
quickly to the window and peeped out into the 
night. The moon flooded the lawns of his 
grounds. “ I am sure I heard some one at the 
door leading to the back stairs,” he said. If he 
had peered closely into the deep shadows he 
would have seen the detective crouched low in the 
bushes that bordered the lawn next to the gate. 

It was Thompson, the Thompson with the iron 
will, who never heeded fatigue or cold when a 
score was to be made. “ Blanche got off easily,” 
he argued. “ There is not brimstone enough in 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 255 

hades to consume with everlasting fire this Vam- 
pire who suggested to the Night Owl the ruina- 
tion of this noble girl. That scoundrel was go- 
ing to marry her under the name of another per- 
son, and thus seduce her to her ruin. For Har- 
ry’s sake, I could wish that this scoundrel had 
married her, but for the girl’s sake, let it remain 
as it is.” 

“ I am sorry that he is sending this Night Owl 
away to Europe. I do not like this breaking up. 
Pshaw! why need I fear; he will never go so long 
as there is a fat goose to pluck. I have his Paris 
address. He will be reached conveniently when 
I need him, and the Vampire, too, for that mat- 
ter. What a night I have had to be sure. The 
wheels of justice must roll, and that which has 
been meted out so cruelly must be measured to 
them again.” 

“ How wonderful is this sentiment called love. 
I am a scientist and the intuition that warned 
the girl that all was not well, never failed her once 
upon this trying occasion. There is a sixth sense 
that is more delicate than the materialism that 
surrounds our bodies. It is a part of ourselves — 
a sentinel on the watch tower of sensibility.” 

“ If this wretched merchant knew what I 
know, how soon would the fabric of forced loans 
crumble into the dust, and the accuser become 
the accused. But he don’t know it and must be 


256 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

bled for the wrongs he has done. The pendulum 
must swing back. I must be vigilant with Har- 
ry, because Blanche has a stronger hope of win- 
ning my boy. This must not be. Claud loves 
Blanche ; what a happy couple they would make.’^ 

“ I must gain Harry’s confidence in the mat- 
ter of bookkeeping; nothing like black and white 
on good strong paper to bring forward as 
evidence when the proper time comes. I will be 
so glad when it is all over. One false step on my 
part would precipitate a stampede that would 
ruin all of my plans. The trial that will make or 
unmake this persecuted young man’s reputation 
will be called up in two weeks, and I will be com- 
pelled to curb Claud’s ambitious dreams, and 
bring out, or, rather, I should by some direct 
means, give the prosecution a hint of some dam- 
aging evidence that some one possesses. I use 
the words some one to divert suspicion from my- 
self ; evidence that will make these scoundrels wish 
to postpone proceedings.” 

“ Claud is preparing his maiden speech for the 
occasion, but I will see that he has no chance to 
deliver the same. It is a masterly effort; for this 
reason it will do my cause more harm than good. 
He can wait; he is young; although he is poor 
now, the days will come when he shall hold his 
head as high as the highest hold their heads. I 
must give the Vampire close attention. She has 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 257 

not met this merchant yet. To-night is the ap- 
pointed time for her paramour to meet her in the 
park. I am sure he will not tell her of the check 
for one thousand that the plucked goose gave to 
him, last night. He will take all she has se- 
cured by blackmailing and be dissatisfied because 
it is no more.’^ 

It is after office hours. I will see that Har- 
ry goes out to see Madge, then I will eat an early 
supper and lounge around the park until these 
miscreants arrive. The moon does not rise till 
midnight. I can get close enough to them be- 
cause the shadows of the arc light will make 
black backgrounds for the staging of this scene. 
They will avoid the seats where the visitors most- 
ly lounge. The more retired the seat, the better 
it will be for me.” 

He promenaded slowly along the beautiful 
walks, yet he did not fill his soul with rapture 
of romance. The couples that frequented this 
park were using the privilege of confidantes. The 
fact that the stars looked down upon them did 
not inspire any but a utilitarian feeling. Life in 
all of its earnestness was the mentor for future 
planning. 

His keen sight caught the outlines of a famil- 
iar figure approaching. The white face was so 
distinctly visible in the surrounding darkness that 
he closed the space between them. It seemed to 


258 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

the detective that the man had hidden his real 
skin behind a masque of phosphorescent paint. 
“ It is not natural,” the searcher after truth re- 
marked; “ if he is trying to be as much like Har- 
ry as possible he has overshot the mark. I must 
find some means to get into the good graces of 
some of the menials that make life a comfort to 
him. He is wearing a wax masque ; I am certain 
of this, because he never goes out in the day time. 
Like the owl, he sleeps all day and moves by 
night. I must see him when his face is natural. 
Something tells me this is the most dangerous 
man that I have to deal with.” 

“ Here comes the Madam, walking slowly as 
if she was in doubt, with a devil’s brains in her 
skull and a heart of steel in her body. She loves 
this Night Owl with all of a woman’s mad devo- 
tion. She loves him because she can use him 
to further her own ends. When she is done vuth 
him she will run a steel hat pin through his brain 
and no one will be the wiser for his taking off.” 

The detective waited until they skirted the 
row of hedges that was nearest the rustic lounge. 
They were satisfied with the inspection and could 
see no lurking danger to absorb the tell-tale 
words that passed between them. Mr. Thomp- 
son in his anxiety to hear what they said crept 
towards them. The swish of a bush startled them. 
Again they passed around. While they were far- 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 259 

therest from him he passed into the shade con- 
veniently near to the iron seat that was over- 
shadowed by a tree. 

“ Did you accomplish the girl’s ruin, as I told 
you?” The Madam asked this with surpressed 
emotion and waited for an answer. Her com- 
panion was silent. He had some twinges of con- 
science. The better part of man’s nature re- 
belled at the heartlessness with which she asked 
this question. He told a deliberate lie to cover 
the payment of the check. By the light that play- 
ed in shadows over her face the detective could 
see that the information gave her genuine de- 
light, for she laid her hand upon his knee and con- 
tinued: “We must put this lawyer out of the 
way; he has made us the chestnuts and monkey 
too. I was thinking it over and I find that he 
has adroitly worked this entire scheme to his 
own interest, and will come out on top whichever 
way the devilment turns, and he cannot be reach- 
ed by due process of law.” 

“ I wish this miserable business was ended. 
You can take his life yourself,” he whispered, sav- 
agely. “ I have one rope around my neck now, 
through a desire to help you. To change the 
subject, what did you do with the man you ruin- 
ed? I would be glad to know, because I need 
money! money! and need it badly.” 

“ I saw him and he handed me this check. 


26o THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

Have it cashed and give me a hundred dollars out 
of it. You can keep the remainder of this piece 
of paper. The fool has taken his old bookkeep- 
er back again to become a stick to break his own 
head with. Harry will find that the books have 
been tampered with. The sinking of the Jonna 
and the attendant results have been cut from the 
ledger. The money of the stranger that you stole, 
and then told me that it was stolen from you, has 
also been removed from the folios of the index, 
and newer leaves inserted. It is neatly done, 
but a bookkeeper of this young man’s ability will 
discover the change.” 

“ I tried so hard to get this young man into 
my power. Unfortunately he was born good, 
and nothing would tempt him. I feared he would 
marry my niece and cut me off from this English 
estate. I hated him because he was so honora- 
ble and good. I have robbed him of his good 
name that nothing will ever restore. Suppose he 
is acquitted, the murder will be a devil to make 
weak humanity his uncharitable accuser. The 
truth will never be known and he will go down 
to his grave a victim of misunderstanding.” 

‘‘ You were not born good,” she lisped, “ and 
I have used you to my advantage. I have grown 
to love you because we are partners in crime. 
This play will soon be played out. With Madge’s 
death I will be sole heir to millions. We will live 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE 26l 

in Paris, and live like lords. Madge’s father is 
dead ; we have positive proof of this. I have made 
all of the arrangements to have Madge placed in 
an asylum where she will go to her death by the 
morphine route. We have the names of every 
retreat in the United States. If money can find 
her she will be found. My merchant friend is in 
a sore strait for means. The banks that have 
been loaning him money are gradually calling in 
their loans; his drafts on London are reluctantly 
paid. It is unfortunate this young girl should be 
out of the way just when we need the money 
most.” 

“ Supposing you do not find her, what will you 
do then? The abduction of this girl from the 
asylum was one of the most marvelous happen- 
ings of all time. We have never found a clue to 
give us a starter. The disappearance of the 
tramp heightens the mystery, and the sleepy town 
is all agog. They have not ceased talking about 
it yet.” 

“ You must quit spending money like you do, 
sir. If Madge is not found the merchant will go 
to the wall. In the meantime, we will get all we 
can out of him and save it — save it for an emer- 
gency. Why should I fear? Everything goes 
our way. Only one thing troubles me; it is the 
shadow of that husband of mine. I never know 
when he will turn up to kill me. He is insanely 


262 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

jealous. If he knew of our love, your life would 
not be worth a song. He is with me in my 
dreams; I cannot get rid of the thought.” 

“ What about this trial that is soon to come 
off? I hate these beastly courts; they make my 
blood run cold. I hate to see that innocent man 
stand up in the prisoner’s dock on trial for his 
life, when we know that he is guiltless of such a 
charge. You and I know who did it, and we also 
know the reason for this awful crime that will 
never come to light. Harry will hang for the 
crime of another, and this will end the scheming 
so far as we are concerned.” 

“ Who has the sheets, -or rather pages of the 
ledger that showed the murdered man’s account; 
and who got that money ? I have never seen any 
of it; it was a large amount.” 

“You got some of it,” she whispered; “you 
were personating Harry. The money you spent 
was part of that found in the pocket of Harry’s 
coat.” 

“Was that some of the money?” he asked, 
with some surprise. “ They were new bills ; I 
remember them well. How did they get in the 
accountant’s pocket ? ” 

“ I cannot tell you now ; this is one of the mys- 
teries to be cleared up; you will know in time. 
We must part, it is growing late; remember what 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 263 

I told you about spending money. We may need 
it, and need it badly, so beware.” 

They sauntered from walk to walk, and passed 
out the main entrance. The detective was re- 
leased from his uncomfortable position and walk- 
ed rapidly to the street and number of house where 
this Night Owl passed his days. The detective 
felt certain that the man with a wax face would 
not return before morning dawned. For this rea- 
son he stopped by the rooms that Harry rented 
and changed his suit for a threadbare, greasy suit 
that exactly answered the purpose for which it 
was intended. Thus equipped, he reached the 
before-mentioned mansion and touched an elec- 
trical button. When the servant answered the 
call, Mr. Thompson presented a card and stated 
“ that an order had been left at his place of busi- 
ness for some plumbing.” 

The detective went from room to room, trying 
each gas fixture with a lighted match. Thus he 
went until he reached the sleeping apartment of 
this man with the wax face. He scanned the pho- 
tographs closely for this face without the wax 
dressing. There were photographs and engrav- 
ings that decorated the walls. By the light of the 
chandeliers he examined these works of art with 
the taste of a professional. One of these etch- 
ings particularly riveted his attention; it was an 
English landscape with its hawthorn hedges, its 


264 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

Stately park, and its castle so massive and cool 
with the sun’s shadows to the east. 

“ Where have I seen the original of that 
sketch? Come back to me, my memory, for I 
need you now, where a whole world of possibil- 
ities loom up before me. Was this etching in this 
house when the Night Owl first occupied it, or 
does it belong to the merchant with his thou- 
sands? If it belongs to the man with the w^ax 
face it will give me a clue to his identity. How 
familiar the loved spot is to me; it brings back 
from the past a world of recollections. Ah! I 
must study this all out. This man is no underling 
in the business with his. cool, brassy ways; he 
acts as if he was above the law.” 

“ He is too intelligent to leave a tell-tale pic- 
ture lying around, as the servants are careless. 
I will take advantage of this fact and make my 
departure known to them.” 

They were playing a game of poker. “ Here 
is my chance,” he thought, as he asked for a hand. 
By this means he ingratiated himself with the 
gamblers. He always managed to lose. What 
cared he for such a trivial loss when so much was 
at stake? He suggested wine, and never asked 
who bought it, or where it came from; it was 
enough to know that it was bringing to light 
secrets that were invaluable to him. 

By dint of cautious questioning he learned 


THOMPSON. THE DETECTIVE. 265 

from the trusted valet that the house-furnishings 
belonged to the present occupant. The valet 
also informed the detective that they were to be 

shipped back to , England. They had been 

offered at private sale. The price was so small 
that the owner concluded to crate them and hold 
them in readiness for transportation. 

“ It cannot be possible that this Night Owl is 
the man I think he is. What a poor fool my land- 
lady is! I see it all. If she is successful in se- 
curing all this money he will marry her. But how 
will this wicked woman dispose of that husband 
of hers? And if he is the man I think he is, he 
has a wife and family living in England. How 
many plans for the future they have dreamed. 
Sooner or later justice will be meted to them in 
a court where wealth and influence will be of no 
worth to them. I must see this man as he came 
from the hand of his creator.” 

A foot on the stairway startled them. The 
game came to an end quickly. It was the mas- 
ter of the house. He merely glanced in and went 
on up the carpeted steps. The detective walked 
towards the back entrance, as if he were going 
out. He turned quickly after he had slammed the 
door and returned to the servants’ room to look 
for something he had mislaid. The room was 
empty. It was but a step to the chamber above. 
Thither he crept on tiptoe. He could hear the 


266 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

Night Owl moving about in the next room. The 
heavy portieres were costly. Twice this soulless 
creature passed through the prodigal foldings; 
twice or more he could have touched the con- 
cealed detective. As the room was dark the 
master lighted a match to find what he wanted. 
This was a trying moment for Mr. Thompson. 

A blow from the detective would have stun- 
ned this prowler. In the confusion Thompson 
would have escaped for he had left a way open 
for his hasty exit. He knew that the fist that 
struck the blow would bring away some of the 
wax, and thus prove that his conjectures were 
correct. A better thought came to him in this 
emergency. He quickly glided to the other side 
of the portiere, while the Owl was feeling his way 
to the chandelier that hung suspended from the 
ceiling. In the middle of the next room the gas 
was extinguished before the owner had returned 
to the lighted apartment. Thompson was then 
on the darkened side. 

“ It is better thus,” the concealed man thought. 
“ One false step on my part would ruin my chances 
of success. Oh ! I want you,” he thought, as he 
watched his man leisurely undress. The cocks 
in the coops in the rear of the house were crow- 
ing lustily for morning. This slowness of the 
Owhs movement irritated Thompson, because 
some of , the servants would be stirring soon and 


♦ THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 26/ 

he must be gone. At one time he concluded to 
play the part of a drunken man and trust to the 
cleverness of the domestics to shield him from 
detection. 

The sums he had lost and the amounts he had 
gained would make his person a future considera- 
tion. His vigilance was redoubled as he noticed 
the half-uridressed sport stand in front of the pol- 
ished mirror and admire his face, in much the 
same manner that a lady would admire her face. 
If there was wax on his face he did not remove it 
but turned out the light and crawled into his bed. 
With a feeling of deep disappointment the watch- 
er crept down the back stairway and stood in the 

The hucksters and milkmen were moving rap- 
idly from square to square. They gave little heed 
to the plodder as he walked along street after 
street. Now and then, some cook or housegirl 
would cast a sidelong glance at him as he made 
his way to the rendezvous, where he drowsily dis- 
robed and went to his own bed without disturb- 
ing Claud and Harry. 

It was two o’clock, p. m., when he awoke from 
his refreshing sleep. The young men were busy 
with their duties. He gave his mind full latitude 
and turned the wheel of memory backwards. The 
picture he had seen and the circumstances under 
which he had inspected the painting would not 
give up the secret. The masque of wax was still 


268 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

a problem to be worked out. Thus he sat until 
the day was far in the west. He was aroused 
from his reveries by the entrance of Harry, the 
person he wished most to see. 

“ Sit down, and tell me how your second meet- 
ing with Madge progressed. Did you note any 
improvement in her condition? Did she seem 
to recognize you when you first entered?’’ 

“ There is considerable improvement,” Harry 
hopefully exclaimed ; “ it almost .brought tears to 
my eyes to see how helplessly she clung to me; 
how softly she smoothed my hair, just like I was 
a child, and wept when the matron led her away.” 

“ God grant that the poor child be restored 
to her normal condition. I pray that her later 
years will be the restful years of her existence. 
There should be some joy come into her life to 
balance the misfortune that attended her earlier 
years.” 

“ Shall I go there, to-morrow? ” the account- 
ant asked. 


CHAPTER XVIII. 


THE MUTILATED LEDGER. 

“ Every day you can spare from your duties. 
By the way, Harry, you can be of great service to 
me in clearing up your misfortune. I know I am 
asking a great favor of you. There are certain 
transactions on the books of the firm that I would 
very much desire to look into. As it concerns 
your honor you should not for a moment stand 
in my way when you have so much at stake.” 

“ If I can do so honorably, command me. To 
tell you the truth, life is hardly worth the living. 
I am a sort of moral leper that every one takes 
the privilege of shunning. Claud is right : this 
world has its thousands of masquers who cover 
their morality with the thinnest of rags.” 

“ Harry, don’t take it so much to heart. Face 
the world like a man. If the world does not like 
you it will at least respect you. Do your em- 
ployers return to the office after supper? I am 
not asking you to betray any especial confidence 
as an accountant. There is a mystery to clear 
up in which you are very materially interested. 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


270 

as you will find out later. The mystery of the 
murdered man haunts me like a ghost. I wish to 
find out who this stranger (that you are accused 
of killing) really is. The only way to do this is 
by an inspection of his private papers and ac- 
counts that he placed in the vault of the firm you 
work for. I have the date that he went to the 
office and deposited a package of new twenty dol- 
lar government bills — twenty thousand dollars in 
all. Some of these bills were found on 3^our per- 
son when you were arrested. Now, tell me, Har- 
ry, did you give a receipt for the special deposit, 
and did you take the numbers on the faces of the 
greenbacks? I feel assured, Harry, that you were 
too shrewd a cashier to receive such a valuable 
deposit without counting the same. One more 
question and I will listen to your answers: Was 
the dead man that lay at your feet the man that 
made the special deposit?” 

“ I did give a receipt for the package, but fill- 
ed out the usual stipulation : ‘ At owners’ risk.’ ” 

“Why did you do this? Merely as a matter 
of precaution, because you thought the vault was 
not burglar proof?” 

“No; I made this proviso because my em- 
ployers have duplicate keys to that section of the 
steel safe where such matter is kept. Each has 
his own papers in the same receptacle.” 

“ Which one of the partners uses his key most ? 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 27I 

Have you the key on your ring? I suppose it is 
a Yale tumbler lock, because the inner safe cost 
very much money. I have heard you say as 
much.” 

“ Blanche’s father ; here is the key. It is a 
queer looking arrangement, is it not ? ” 

“Would you let me make a sketch of.it?” 
The detective asked for a piece of writing paper 
and with his knife he sharpened his lead pencil 
to a fine point, placed the flat key on the note pa- 
per and made a neat sketch which found its way 
into his memorandum book. 

“ Now tell me about the numbers on the bills.” 

“ The bank-notes were evidently from the sub- 
treasury, because the stranger told me that he had 
deposited British sovereigns at their gold valua- 
tion, at bankers’ rates.” 

“ Then the numbers on this currency must have 
run consecutively, as this is a custom of the United 
States Treasury.” 

“ You are right, Mr. Thompson, and I will tell 
you that I recorded the numbers and have them 
with my private papers. How those bills got on 
my person is beyond my comprehension.” 

“ Did you hang up your coat in the office, or 
did you wear it during business hours? This is 
a very important inquiry.” 

“ I cannot work with my coat on. This is my 
peg where I always place it. Gracious heavens! 


272 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

you do not mean to hint that Blanche’s father 
placed that money in my pocket ? ” 

“You have answered my trend of thought; 
it is only a suspicion. There, there, don’t take it 
so much to heart, my boy. You know the money 
was found in your coat pocket, and you know 
that you never carry currency where it is exposed 
to the manipulations of the light-fingered gen- 
try.” 

“ I never carried money in my coat that I 
can remember. But the thought that my em- 
ployer put that money there to ruin me, staggers 
belief.” 

“ The grind of humanity goes on, and wealth, 
or the mad greed of wealth, breaks down all bar- 
riers of friendship. I am glad that you see mat- 
ters in their true light. Now you will help me 
go over those books that I may give you back 
your good name and restore to you what is your 
own. Now, Harry, one more question, and this 
is the most important one of all. Was the man 
in the mansion with his throat cut the same man 
that made the especial deposit?” 

The young man grasped the detective’s arm 
with a vice-like grip, and turned him half way 
round, as he wildly gasped : “ Do you think 

Madge killed that man? Oh, the misery of it! 
She was standing over him with my knife in her 
hand. I took it from her to shield her from dis- 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 273 

grace; you know the remainder. Oh! the pity 
of it all. I believe I am mad myself.” 

“ Cool down, my boy ; neither one of you mur- 
dered the man; I am sure of it. Only help me 
to find the true criminal; this is all that I ask. 
I am on the right track and with your assistance 
I will yet run him down.” 

A great wave of hope came to this persecuted 
man. A new life appeared to take the place of 
the old life, as he joyously clasped the hand of 
the detective and observed : “ That I will assist 

you by every means in my power. You shall in- 
spect the books from beginning to end. I thought 
that my employer was over-anxious for me to go 
that night; but how did he know that I was go- 
ing there ? ” 

“ Easily enough. I found afterwards that you 
had been shadowed by a second detective. The 
hack you hailed was following Madge for the pur- 
pose of picking you up that you might play your 
part in this terrible tragedy. You were followed 
from this room when you went to the entertain- 
ment given by your employer. You were followed 
when you rushed away from Blanche like a mad- 
man, and the hackman did the rest. The same 
night I was seized and put on board of the whal- 
ing ship, and Madge was placed in a madhouse. 
You will admit that the job was neatly done. I 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


274 

have the man spotted that shadowed you. I can 
begin to see the beginning of the end.” 

“ What awful villainy, Mr. Thompson.^ Can 
such things be in this enlightened age? Who is 
the prime mover in this conspiracy?” 

“That I cannot tell. You will understand it 
all better after a while ; you know a detective must 
not tell everything he knows.” 

“ This is the first time you ever told me any- 
thing, Mr. Thompson. Why are you so com- 
municative now ? ” 

“ Because I want to assure you that you are 
innocent, and I want to give you a reason for 
asking you to let me see the books of the firm. 
The trial will come up one week from to-day, and 
it is well to be prepared:” 

The detective did not tell the prisoner that 
the trial would not be called; he did not tell him 
of the money and influence that would fix this 
crimson stain on an innocent person to shield the 
real criminal. The purpose of the detective was 
to stimulate the energy of the lawyer who was 
defending Harry, to stimulate the latter by the 
hope of a speedy acquittal and the restoration of 
the prisoner’s good name ; in fact, he wished to 
use them for their own good. 

“ Harry, you did not answer my last question ; 
I will repeat it: Was the dead man the same 
man that made the deposit?” 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 275 

“ I was SO excited that I could not tell you, 
to save my life.” 

“ Would you know the man if you were to see 
him again? ” 

“ I am almost sure that I would recognize 
him.” 

“ Harry, if I should show you a picture of the 
man would you know it to be a fair likeness of 
the murdered man?” 

“ I am sure of it. Why are you so persistent 
in asking so many questions on this point? ” 

“ Because it is the most important evidence 
of all. It will affect all of your future life. Trust 
me, Harry, and you will not regret the confidence 
that you now begrudge me. When can I go with 
you to the office ? ” 

“ Any time ; to-night, if you wish. What you 
have told me has confirmed the suspicions that 
have taken possession of my senses. The truth 
that Madge is innocent has made me very hap- 
py, and I will help you right a great wrong, and 
God will bless you for doing so.” 

“ Why do you not tell Claud what you have 
told me? He will be glad to share my good for- 
tune.” 

“ I cannot trust him to keep this information. 
Never by word or sign impart to him what I have ^ 
entrusted to your keeping. Will you promise me 
to keep your mouth closed, good and tight?” 


276 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

“ Harry, have you seen Blanche, lately ? ” 

“Yes; I dropped by there during the after- 
noon. She acted so queerly and seemed to shun 
me, and again was over impulsive. She regret- 
ted that she did not go to church with me. I 
never made any engagement to go to church with 
her. I believe this play at cross purposes is run- 
ning us all crazy.” 

“ Harry, would you marry Blanche if she were 
to insist upon it? ” 

“ Are you crazy, too, Mr. Thompson, that you 
should ask me such a question ? ” 

“ I know, my boy, that Blanche is a noble girl. 
I feel that a sentiment of gratitude might per- 
haps wean your love away from the poor helpless 
playmate of your boyhood days. Persons don’t 
see these matters through the same glasses. 
Madge has loved you with a passionate idolatry. 
She came to this city to claim your protection, 
and in an evil hour she fell into the hands of that 
unscrupulous aunt of hers. Since then all has 
gone wrong with us. But, cheer up, a brighter 
dawn is breaking.” 

“ Mr. Thompson, why are you so solicitous 
of Madge? I can’t understand it. I have no 
idea of marrying Blanche, because Claud loves 
the ground she walks upon. Have I not given 
you my word of honor that I would marry Madge, 
even if she has fallen. I am willing to trust to 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 277 

your good judgment to clear my good name. If 
we are going to the office, now is the best time 

to go. Mr. has a business engagement 

with a lawyer, to-night, consequently we will not 
be interrupted.” 

“ What sort of a looking lawyer is to meet 
your employer? Did you ever see this old Green- 
bags anywhere, Harry? It is important that I 
should be informed on this subject for more than 
one reason. If you will remember, he administer- 
ed your father’s estate ; that is, if it is the man I 
think it is.” 

“ Is this old , the one that used to prac- 
tice law in the Village of F ? I thought I 

recognized him as he came into the office, yester- 
day. He must have prospered. He came in his 
own conveyance and was dressed in a suit of broad- 
cloth. You remember how seedy he used to 
dress when we knew him, years ago.” 

“ It is the same man. He has robbed you, my 
boy, and I have the double proof of it ; so bear a 
hand, as the sailors say, and we will run him to 
cover.” 

The accountant went slowly down the steps of 
his apartment. He looked carefully around him. 
When he had satisfied himself that all was well 
he walked rapidly in the direction of his counting- 
room. The fire in the grate was replenished. 
The night settled down for rain. The time was 


278 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

propitious for the detective to gain additional evi- 
dence. 

The cautious steps of Thompson drew nearer. 
He threw off his waterproof, and while Harry un- 
locked the vault and safe he wiped the rain-drops 
from his beard. “ Come on, the books are here ; 
see what you can find that looks suspicious. If 
you can you will beat me as a professional check- 
er.” 

“ Is this the ledger that had the murdered 
man’s account on it? You know that two years 
or more have passed by since the night of the 
murder. It cannot be possible that the same led- 
ger would hold out thus long.” 

“By Jove! I never thought of that. Since 
you call my attention to this circumstance, I will 
go through the book, page by page. When the 
office was turned over to me, this ledger balanced. 
I have the trial balance filed away which is a 
check on the former bookkeeper’s work.” 

“ Show me the account of the late stranger 
that left the special deposit. It must be in the 
ledger that antedates this one.” 

The young man ran his finger down the vowel 
index, carefully. Again he called over the names. 
The name he wished to find was not among the 
number. 

“ This is astonishing,” the accountant remark- 
ed. “ There is no ledger that is back of this. I 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE 279 

don’t understand it. I opened that account my- 
self. Without the heading I will be unable to fur- 
nish you with the name.” 

“ I trust you can do this, Harry. It is a mat- 
ter of such grave importance to me that a further 
search will be necessary. Don’t give it up; you 
must find this missing page. You will be accused 
of tampering with the accounts.” 

“You do not remember the vowel letter of 
the name, my lad? Put out the gas on this side 
of the desk and leave the one on the other side 
burn. Now push the book towards me and turn 
the leaves, one by one, slowly, Harry.” For ten 
minutes the monotonous turning of leaves dis- 
turbed the stillness of the room. 

“ Stop ! that will do. Let me examine this leaf, 
and the next. The paper is different, the water- 
mark is different; the scoundrels have cut the ac- 
counts out of the book.” He turned the pages 
broadly down and ran his dexter finger along the 
binding. “ This is a neat job and it was done by 
one who understood the binder’s art. Evidence 
in your favor. No bookkeeper in the world could 
have made such a change that almost defies de- 
tection.” 

“ How stands the evidence now, Mr. Thomp- 
son? ” 

“ I am bitterly disappointed,” the detective re- 
plied. “ Every trace of the missing man has been 


28o THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

removed from these books; also, the account of 
the whaling ship, Jonna. Have you any papers 
in the vault that will throw some light on this 
work? Do not hesitate to overhaul the private 
documents of your employers, for it is a duty you 
owe to yourself.” 

Bundle after bundle was overhauled by the two 
men. Not the slightest trace of evidence was dis- 
covered. “ Here is a list of the numbers on the 
stolen gold notes,” exclaimed Harry. “ As I 
surmised, the numbers run consecutively. Such 
a transaction would be remembered at the bank. 
I went with the gold myself.” 

“ How did this English gold come to him, in 
the shape of a consignment? He did not bring it 
over with him I am sure, and if he did tlie purser 
of the vessel that he came over in must know 
something about it. So cheer up, my boy; we 
will find the name of this man yet in spite of all of 
their precautions. Another question: Was that 
gold placed in the vault ? ” 

“Yes; it was also a special deposit, for the 
reason that’ he was going to invest the amount 
in the West.” 

“ How did it happen that he had so much gold? 
Was his sterling exchange cashed in English 
money? ” 

“ If it was so cashed, I never understood it 
to be cashed in the manner you speak of, yet it 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 281 

seems natural, for the sovereigns would be of little 
value as a circulating medium in this country. 
As the exchange would have called for sovereigns, 
I presume he was paid in such specie.’’ 

“ In what bank did this transaction take place ? 
Perhaps I can get a starter. Some entry must 
be in the bank where this piece of English ex- 
change was entered. His endorsement and iden- 
tification Was a prerequisite of speedy payment.” 
The next question : “ Who was tile person, or 

persons, that identified the stranger? This was 
no ordinary deal.” 

“ One of my employers went with him to the 
bank, so you see he had no trouble on this score.” 

“ Harry, I want to ask you the most important 
inquiry of all: Where did the bank get so much 
English gold? Such institutions do not often 
handle such stuff. The entire transaction has a 
very fishy smell.” 

“ By Jove, you are right. The entire deal 

comes to me now. Madam V put that 

money in the bank, and the bank unloaded it on 
the stranger. I ought to be able to tell you his 
name, but I have had so many ups and downs 
since then that I have no memory at all.” 

“ I will go, to-morrow, to the bank and see 
what I can find in the way of evidence.” 

“ It will be useless ; the bank has special in- 


282 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

structions on the very point you speak of. It is 
a close corporation.’' 

Harry, being from the same village, did you 
ever call upon the Madam ? ” 

She always gave me the cut direct, and avoid- 
ed me. I learned she was a dangerous woman, 
an adventuress that it was well to shun.” 

“ You never lost anything by it, Harry. She 
is more than a dangerous woman — she is a devil. 
I have been on her track for months. Her game 
is almost played out. Some day I will tell you 
why she avoids you, but not now. You see how 
implicitly I trust to your silence. Do not tell 
Claud anything; my chances for success are in 
your keeping.” 

'‘You can count upon me, Mr. Thompson, 
and feel perfectly secure.” 

“ I wish, Harry, that you could step around to 
the bank and get the endorsers on this particular 
piece of exchange. It would clear up a doubt in 
my mind, a doubt that baffles my powers of mem- 
ory.” 

“ Do you not think it would be unwise for me 
to ask for the information you desire? I am sure 
that my employer would know it in twenty-four 
hours.” 

“ You have the name qf the steamer he came 
to this country on ? ” the detective asked. “ I 
might find his name on the register. This would 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 283 

be a round-about way, yet it is better than noth- 
ing/^ 

“ I can give you the name of the vessel. I 
liave a card that gives her sailing time, and the 
number of the pier. The card is in my trunk at 
my room. I was overhauling my effects, for 
Claud’s benefit ; some almost new suits I persuad- 
ed him to accept. He has given up ambition, his 
practice, and almost everything to serve me. 
Such friends are few, these degenerate times.” 

“ It is growing late, close up the office, we will 
go to our rooms. I am disappointed with this 
night’s work, Harry, but the fault is not yours. 
Give me that list of the numbers. It will be use- 
ful to me in the near future.” 

The detective followed the accountant until 
he reached the long stairway that led up to the 
rendezvous, and walked with a rapid gait in the 
direction of his lodging house. Fortunately the 
landlady was as usual out on a lark, as she laugh- 
ingly expressed it. When he entered his room 
he found everything just as he left it. This cir- 
cumstance gave him some uneasiness, because 
she was the most crafty woman that was ever 
born. She was no ordinary woman. She twist- 
ed men around her finger and left them in ignor- 
ance of her cunning designs. Human will was 
as plastic as putty in her hands. 

He could not resist the temptation to draw 


284 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

from his trunk the twenty dollar gold note that he 
had received in change for the board that he al- 
ways paid in advance. It was like drawing a 
prize in a lottery. He looked first at the number 
on the bank note, then at the number on the list. 
A grim smile played over his face as he thought 
of the numbers that were found on Harry’s per- 
son. The number on the Madam’s money was 
the next consecutive numeral after Harry’s last 
row of figures. 

“ The Night Owl put that incriminating mon- 
ey in Harry’s pocket. He counted the bills down 
to the Vampire’s numbers, and then gave the 
landlady a certain amount. That corresponds to 
the total that Harry is accused of stealing. The 
remainder was used by the firm, or gambled away 
in futures.” 

He stroked the gold note with an aflection that 
seemed childish, because the evidence was con- 
clusive in one direction. There was so much to 
nose out. ‘‘ Where did all that gold come from? 
Who were the persons on the other side of the 
ocean that forwarded this large sum? Did it 
come from the English estate, and what had the 
stranger to do with the nefarious transaction?” 

The detective heard the Madam trip lightly 
past his door; then he heard her tip-toe back and 
listen at his door. The light was out and every- 
thing was quiet in his room. Softly she tried the 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 285 

latch and returned to her room. He dozed for 
twenty minutes. The strange feeling of some im- 
pending danger aroused him. The gas was es- 
caping. He felt certain that he had turned the 
key to the stop. As he always slept with his 
windows open, the fear of suffocation did not 
trouble him. When he was satisfied that she was 
in her boudoir, he lit a match. The danger of 
an explosion was so small that this piece of im- 
prudence became a necessity. 

“ What a cunning devil this woman is,” he mut- 
tered. He crawled on his hands and knees along 
the floor to the corner of the room where the gas- 
piping was let into the wall. At this point the 
smell of gas was strongest. He ran his fingers 
along the surface. The dastardly act was ex- 
plained. The steel rod was connected with a key 
that could be turned off and on by a person in the 
hall, irrespective of the real burner. The piping 
had been tapped at this corner joint, and the fatal 
gas was expected to smother the sleeper. 

He knew that she slept late. For this rea- 
son he turned the gas off and slept soundly until 
morning. To allay suspicion he turned the key 
one-eighth of the way round and waited for the 
Madam to pass. The smell of gas caused her to 
rap loudly at the door and call out : Mr. Thomp- 

son, your gas is escaping! ” 

“ I wish to beg your pardon, Madam, for my 


286 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

negligence; it came very near causing my cleath. 
Fortunately my windows are always up; it is a 
habit of mine that long years have only intensified. 

I know that I was not drunk. I must have been 
buried in intense thought to do such a careless 
thing.” 

He noted the keen look of disappointment that 
greeted this explanation. She bit her lips to keep 
down the anger that was boiling at blood heat, as 
she scolded him for his carelessness. 

“Your gas bill will be heavy, this month, sir. 

You should have been careful and not go dream- 
ing through life with,, all of your advanced 
ideas that are so much foolishness. What good 
is it going to do you, pray? Mope along, and let 
people run over you rough-shod. I am as ignor- 
ant as a horse, and I am proud of it. I have had 
my wits sharpened by keeping boarders. When 
it comes to getting along, I can hold my own with 
the best of them.” 

“ I have no doubt that you are telling the 
truth. Madam ; but give me my own little world 
that is bounded by human charity. All of the 
sunshine that comes to me I scatter broadcast, 

and the dark places shall be as bright as day. : 

I wrong no one by doing right, and my conscience ♦ 

is a soft pillow to rest my head upon ; can you say | 

as much ? ” ' 

“ The world is my legitimate prey. I have not ■ 


i 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 287 

one bit of human charity in my nature. I re- 
spect nothing but money! ! money! ! It is my 
God.” 

You are a strange woman, and a terrible 
woman. There, there, none of your passes around 
me ; you made me sick the other time. Besides, 
your mind is not strong enough to exert such a 
power over me. You forget that physical re- 
search is my most interesting study. Tell me, he 
asked, what would you do with me if I were under 
the spell of your enchantment ? ” 

Do with you? I swear I do not know. You 
are too big a fool to talk to. 1 have been making 
love to you ever since I have been here, but your 
brains and hard study have made you a saint, 
and I have no use for saints after your style; 
they are too stupid to live.” 

With a low bow he smiled an engaging smile 
and replied : “ Please, Madam, do not kill me 

for differing with you on this question. Have I 
been any trouble to you since I have been here? 
You will know me better after a while. When the 
gas bill comes in let me know, and I will pay it. 
The same will be a good lesson for me and make 
me more careful in the future.” 

I don’t understand you,” she said savagely. 

You are either a fool for your sense, or a re- 
markable man.” 

“ Let it be the latter and I will feel compli- 


288 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

merited.” He looked curiously at her as she 
hastened to the kitchen. “Yes, I am very sure 
that you will know me better when the proper 
time arrives. That is an awful woman ; she was 
born without a soul ; nothing is sacred with her, 
absolutely nothing. The grind of the eternal mill 
must go on until the debt is paid.” 

The detective was unusually quiet. It seem- 
ed to him that she wished to destroy him just 
for the pleasure of doing so. He had never 
wronged her, and never intended to wrong her. 
He was going to see that justice was measured to 
her with painful exactness. The incident of the 
past night made him cautious. For this reason 
he helped himself to such dishes as were passed 
from one boarder to the next. 

After the meal was finished, he returned to his 
room and took from his pocket the order of the 
court that Claud secured for him. He scanned it 
closely to verify its correctness. “ Now comes 
the pretty part of my work,” the detective re- 
marked, “ for on its veracity depends the fate of 
Harry.” He breathed easier when he had pass- 
ed out of the limits of the boarding house. Leis- 
urely he made his way through the crowded thor- 
oughfare to the hardware firm where Claud had 
purchased the knife as a present for Harry. 

“ I fear that I am too late. The circumstanc- 
es of sale are too far back to be remembered.” 


THOMPSON^ THE DETECTIVE. 289 

He thought this as he crossed to the showcase 
where a full line of .cutlery was displayed. The 
ten minutes that he waited for the clerk gave Mr. 
Thompson the time to inspect this display. The 
knife was an expensive kind of knife. There had 
been originally three in the morocco case; two 
had been sold and one was left. 

Have you been in the employ of this house 
a long time? My reasons for asking such a ques- 
tion are, I wish to duplicate an order that was 
filled here, say two years ago. It was a fine 
knife.” Then he looked carefully from one case 
to another ; “ something like this one under my 
thumb.” 

“ We sold two of them about the time you men- 
tion.” The clerk said this as he handed the ar- 
ticle to the customer. “ They are too expensive ; 
razor steel, you know, cost us three eighty-five, 
wholesale; no money in them at the price mark- 
ed.” 

“ Would you kindly refer to your salesbook 
that day. I want to be sure of purchasing the 
same quality of cutlery. I have my reasons for 
being so particular.” 

Certainly, sir; no trouble at all.” In two 
minutes he came back with the salesbook and the 
cash tickets also. “ Here is the first sale : sold to 

Claud , a friend of mine; it was for Harry 

Monteet, and so marked on the silver plate. This 


290 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

is the only one that is left. If you will buy it we 
will make a deduction on the marked price. Are 
you superstitious about giving cutlery?” the po- 
lite clerk naively asked. “ If such is the case I 
will throw in a nickel for the donee.” 

“ Would you be kind enough to mark the name 
on the silver plate, and we will not quarrel about 
the price.” 

“ We do not mark names on the articles we 
sell. I can give you the address of the firm that 
engraves all our ware. You will find them very 
polite and accommodating. I will say a good 
word for you on the b^ck of this card.” 

When the purchase was made the detective 
waited for his change. During the interim, he 
quickly wrote the name of the buyer of knife 
number two in his memorandum book, “ It is 
as I suspected,” the detective thought ; “ but I 
will give him the benefit of the doubt until I make 
a further investigation. I hope the engraver will 
be so polite and communicative as the salesman 
in the store that I just quitted.” 

As he walked on the shady side of the street 
he placed this evidence in every conceivable light. 
“ How did the suspected person know that Claud 
had made such a present to Harry? Again, why 
should the same individual wish to duplicate the 
order?” This duplication could be of no es- 
pecial importance as evidence. Mr. Thompson 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 29I 

was puzzled. When he stood in the little engrav- 
er’s shop, he still held the knife in his hand, and 
while he unwrapped the package he handed the 
proprietor the card that the hardware clerk had 
given to him. 

“ Is this the right place? ” the detective inno- 
cently inquired. “ This knife I wish to present to 
a friend of mine; it is a first-class article, and I 
want the job to be a first-class job. I esteem the 
person very highly. What will the charges be? ” 

“ We charge by the letter, sir; how many will 
there be in the name? Here is a sample book 
of styles and names; make your selection while 
I wait on another customer.” The sample book 
was open before the detective. What an oppor- 
tunity. Here is a complete record running back 
four years. I hope that the customer will detain 
the salesman until I can trace up the two trans- 
actions. The dates of the sales were fresh in his 
mind, yet he looked carefully back through the 
pages just as leisurely as if his heart w^as dormant. 

As he drew nearer to the date of the second 
purchase he moved more slowly. “ Right you 
are, Thompson; the merchant bought the pres- 
ent and the same person had it engraved. An- 
other criminal accessory to the murder. How 
these people’s sins find them out. I wonder if the 
Madam hypnotized him also? Her victims seem 
to be numerous.” 


292 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


‘‘ Well, sir,” the clerk asked ; “ have you made 
a selection? You have a number of specimens to 
select from.” 

“ I think this will suit ; how much will the price 
be for this script? It is plain and neat. I do 
not admire those elaborate styles.” 

“ Harry Monteet ! ” the clerk exclaimed in 
surprise. “ This is the third knife I have engrav- 
ed for him. The bad luck in one knife is bad 
enough ; think of three ; it is enough to bring him 
to the very backgate of misfortune.” 

“ Pardon me ; I do not want that name engrav- 
ed on the handle. Who is the young man? I 
only prefer that character of letter.” 

“ Beg your pardon, sir. I used to know PTar- 
ry very well ; a finer man never walked the streets 
of this city. Such a pity he should have thrown 
himself away. That was a horrible murder that 
he committed. His trial will come up in a week 
or ten days. Fast living, fast living, will ruin any 
young man.” 

“ That is a long time ago. I remember read- 
ing the news in the morning paper. It must be 
fully two or three years since the event occurred. 
What do you think his chances are for acquittal? ” 

“ Poor- enough, from all the talk I can gather. 
Even if he is innocent, his good name is forever 
ruined; so the poor devil had better be hanged, 
and thus end his trouble.” 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


293 


Mr. Thompson could hardly restrain the im- 
pulse to seize the offender by the throat and teach 
him a lesson in human charity. He did not re- 
ply but quietly asked this man if the writing in 
the book was the work of his hand. Upon re- 
ceiving an affirmative reply, he said, in a low 
tone of voice : “ Do you know the merchant that 
had the name of this young man engraved on 
whatever article he brought to you?” 

“ I certainly ought to know him, for the rea- 
son that I had Harry’s position while he was 

in prison. Mr. has placed this disgraced 

man back in the counting-room, and I, an honest 
man, must step aside to make room for him.” 

“ Perhaps for the reason you have just given 
me ; you have no charity for the unfortunate man. 
I am sorry for any man that does a wrong; I al- 
ways remember that there are two sides to every 
case. Tell me,” the detective continued, “ Did 
you ever work in a bookbinding establishment? ” 

This question startled the clerk. He looked 
hard at the questioner. The calm, innocent ex- 
pression of the detective’s countenance reassured 
the young man, as he said : “ Why do you wish to 
know ? ” 

“ I have some printing to do. As I am a 
stranger in the city I thought that you could di- 
rect me to a first-class house.” 

“ A relieved feeling changed the brusque man- 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


294 

ners of the ex-bookkeeper into .smiling affability 
as he replied : “ Indeed I can, sir ; you can do 

me a good turn. The work will cost you no more 
and I will get a commission out of the order. 
Here is their card; be sure and tell them that I 
sent you; here is also my name and address.’’ 

“ This is the firm that furnished the two ex- 
tra pages of Harry’s ledger, and this is the young 
man that was so loud-mouthed at the entertain- 
ment that my boy last attended. This is the one 
that Claud demolished on that evening. I must 
be cautious and move carefully in this matter. 
Perhaps this saint helped himself to the paper 
without permission from the firm, and did a very 
neat job. But he overlooked one very important 
circumstance, namely : the watermark on the 
sheets.” When these reflections were ended he 
stood before the counter and waited his turn. 

“ I came to inquire about your terms. I am 
a stranger here and when I go home I want to 
get your most favorable prices for a set of books. 
I do not promise to fill the order here; and if it 
will put you to any trouble, consider the request 
as a chance bid that may be accepted.” 

“ No trouble at all, sir; we will be pleased to 
give you our figures. What quality of paper and 
what style of binding do you desire?” 

“I would want a good quality of paper; let 




THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 295 


me examine some of your samples — something of 
a linen finish, and heavy.” 

“ Here is a line of goods that would suit me, 
I think.” He selected the heavy-weight paper 
that was used by the ex-bookkeeper when he cut 
from Harry’s ledger the two tell-tale leaves. 

The binding and lettering figured separately. 
To do this the obliging clerk had recourse to some 
information in the office. This gave Mr, Thomp- 
son an opportunity to compare the watermark 
with the watermark on the two inserted pages. 
‘‘ How little circumstances will make great events ! 
This uncharitable friend of Harry’s might have 
passed unnoticed, and given the detective no ex- 
tra trouble. How important it is to say pleasant 
things and be just, even to our enemies. Now 
I can use him for his own destruction.” 

“ Do you ever insert leaves in an old ledger? 
I mean by this, supposing that I wanted to tear 
out some accounts that had been balanced a long 
time, and replace them with fresher leaves; you 
have heard the old saying that ‘ economy is the 
road to wealth,’ etc.” 

“ No, sir, we do not do that kind of business; 
it looks bad. We sometimes rebind ledgers; it 
would be cheaper to have a new one made.” 

“I thank you, sir; you will hear from me 
again.” 

The detective folded carefully the sheet, where- 


296 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

on figures of the bid were written in ink, as was 
the name of the firm. This has been a lucky day 
for me, the seeker of information thought, as he 
hurriedly entered the rooms of Harry and filed 
all of the papers away for future reference. 

I was careless, to-day ; I should have chang- 
ed my suit of clothes. The gentlemen were not 
very observant or they would have wondered what 
a professor was doing with ledgers, etc. The 
knife will have a fictitious name on the handle. 
I bought it for the information that I wished to 
procure. It has no further value to me.’’ 

Mr. Thompson waited for Harry to come in. 
A feeling of uneasiness took possession of his 
thoughts. He had been so busy for the past ten 
days that he had neglected Madge, and also over- 
looked the fact that Harry’s visits might attract at- 
tention. Therefore, he met Harry with an ex- 
pectant look that expressed so much. 

“ Come, tell me, my boy, how fares your woo- 
ing? Has Madge recovered her mind? Does 
she recognize you? Sit down; you look pale.” 


CHAPTER XIX. 


MADGE ABDUCTED. 

“ Madge is gone,” the accountant faltered. 
The matron accuses me of running off with her. 
She is very anxious for you to call at once. Poor 
Madge, she was doing so well; only a vestige of 
her malady remained.” 

This information made the detective shiver. 
He turned to his informant with a little gesture 
of impatience. He did this to hide the agitation 
that made his voice unsteady, as he asked : 
“ When did this happen ? I should have known 
this sooner ; if we do not find her all of our labor 
will be in vain.” 

“ I called as you wished me to call and found 
Madge so very much better that my happiness 
increased tenfold. Now and then she would ram- 
ble in her speech. This would quickly pass away, 
and she would be almost like her old self. I went 
by there to see her, this morning. The matron, 
with livid face, gave me a terrible tongue-lash- 
ing and accused me of running off with her.” 

Mr. Thompson could not inform the young 


298 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

man of the seriousness of the situation, or the part 
that Madge’s aunt played in the abduction. Pie 
realized the danger that threatened the unhappy 
girl. He knew that the Night Owl had personat- 
ed Harry and would stop at nothing to encompass 
her destruction. 

“ It is all my fault ; I should have given you 
my address each day. I am sorry you went to 
the agency to inquire as to my whereabouts. 
They do not know I am in the city. I hope the 
inquiry you made will pass unnoticed ; don’t do it 
again. I must go at once to the asylum and pick 
up some morsels of news. There is no time to 
lose.” 

He rapped loudly at the side door of the re- 
treat and waited for his call to be answered. 
“ How little judgment I displayed in not caution- 
ing Harry. Some of the Madam’s strikers have 
evidently been on guard at this retreat. They 
have noticed his repeated visits and thus have they 
turned me down on this part of the game.” 

The matron opened the door and with a quick 
movement of her finger to her lips enjoined si- 
lence. This mystified the detective. Pie follow- 
ed her to the private parlor and with a disap- 
pointed glance at the visitor, she said : 

“ How will I ever be able to trust anyone ! 
The young man that came to see my patient was 
a villain. He took advantage of my kindness and 


THOMPSON^ THE DETECTIVE. 299 

persuaded the girl to go off with him. It was 
my stupid husband that yielded to the young 
man’s wishes.” 

Do not blame Harry ; he had nothing to do 
with the abduction. You have been victimized 
by a scoundrel that is a double of the accountant. 
He came with a carriage, I presume?” 

The driver of the carriage is in the office talk- 
ing to my old man now. For this reason I made 
a signal of silence. Come with me; I will place 
you at a window overlooking the premises.” 

They crossed several halls and tip-toed to a 
small, grated ventilator. The superintendent, in 
a low, determined voice, was demanding the pay- 
ment of some money due by Madam V . 

“ You must come down with the cash. I do 
not want any more of your promises. This in- 
stitution is run and owned by a stock company. 
They have charged me with this large sum. I 
am not able to lose it, as it represents almost a 
year’s salary. The draft on London you gave 
me came back unpaid. I have had a hand in your 
dirty business ; I am sorry for it. I know where 
you have taken the young girl. You have driven 
her there for the Madam’s sake. I pity her from 
the bottom of my heart, because she will never 
come out of there alive ; not that they will kill her 
at once — it may take months — opium will do it. 
My hands are clear of the transaction. You want- 


300 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

ed me to kill her while she was here ; you were 
mistaken in the man.” 

The detective did not catch the low, cautious 
answer of Tim as he pleaded for delay. He caught 
enough to know that Madge crossed on the ferry- 
boat, and was across the river in a private asylum 
that would be hard to find. The further thought 
came to him that Madge would be safe from de- 
struction for one month at least. This would give 
him time to complete the evidence in time for 
Harry’s trial that was fast approaching. 

Mr. Thompson thanked the matron and hur- 
ried to the main entrance just as Tim was mak- 
ing his exit. The detective hailed a cab and 
slipped a ten dollar bill into the driver’s hand and 
asked him to keep Tim’s carriage in sight. This 
was an easy job, as the man that was followed 
drove in a walk through the streets that were less 
crowded. This menial of the Madam’s stopped 
his vehicle in front of the city hall, mounted the 
steps and handed a folded piece of paper to a 
clerk in one of the departments; from here he 
followed Tim to his quarters through crooked al- 
leys that defied the vigilance of the police. 

“ I am glad that I have located him. I can 
put my hands on him when I round them all up. 
He is useful to me in this emergency. Through 
him I will find Madge. I trust the authorities 
will not molest him at this time.” 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 3OI 

A thought came to the detective. This 
thought changed the direction of his destination. 
The Madam left a note with the clerk in the sher- 
iff’s office. I am almost convinced that it has 
some reference to the fatal knife. He quickened 
his walk. Instead of going towards the court 

house he turned sharply down to B street, 

where Claud’s modest sign was fastened to the 
main entrance. 

The young attorney was seated at his oaken 
table, with some legal documents lying flat be- 
fore him. The cheery voice of the intruder 
aroused him from the absorbed attention that was 
fixed upon the instrument. Ah ! Claud, do not burn 
the midnight oil on that famous speech that is to 
make you famous. My word for it, you will never 
be called upon to deliver this painstaking effort.” 

“Why do you think so, Mr. Thompson?” 

“ Because the prosecution will not be ready. 
The case will go to the foot of the docket. An- 
other year will go by and Harry will be under the 
unjust cloud of public opinion. They will keep 
up the cry of ‘ stop thief ’ to shield their own mur- 
derous part of the transaction.” 

“ Don’t let my words give you disappointment ; 
the years of your professional life are before you. 
You have been a friend to this persecuted man 
and time will bring its reward. Put on your hat 
and go with me to the Sheriff’s office. Put the 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE 


302 

Judge’s order in your pocket; I mean the order 
that permits you to examine the fatal knife. 
When we get there, you direct the attention of the 
clerk to some object, while I scrape some of 
the clotted blood off the blade.” 

With a startled glance the lawyer exclaimed: 

Do you think the knives have been changed? ” 

“ Can’t tell until I have the knife in my hands. 
Would you recognize the present that you gave 
our friend?” 

“ Without any difficulty; the nicks in the blade 
were made by opening canned goods. There 
were three near the point.” 

They stood at the desk unobserved. The 
clerk was searching for some court papers that 
had been filed out of their order. The keen eyes 
of the detective carelessly scanned the loose blanks 
that were evidently subpoenas. The grave look 
of the elder man did not escape the younger man’s 
observation. 

“ Notice the half-filled blanks, Claud; it seems 
that I was mistaken in my conjectures.” He did 
not inform his young friend that he noticed the 

familiar handwriting of Madam V upon the 

half exposed sheet of paper that was placed be- 
neath a cut glass paper weight. A smile of grim 
satisfaction settled upon the detective’s rugged 
features as he mentally thought : 

“ It serves this merchant prince right. 


He has 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 303 

sinned deeply; let him receive the price of his in- 
human conduct. The creature he has nurtured 
will be a rack of torture for this unhappy man 
whose sins will soon find him out. His daughter 
is the one object of his affection. He thinks she 
is marrying Harry. The awakening will be ter- 
rible when he finds that the man with the wax 
face is his son-in-law.” 

“ I must, and will save this noble girl, who 
has been so loyal and true to my boy, and yet 
how great a risk I run. It is only Harry’s kind 
heart that prompts him to stand by Madge in her 
great misfortune. At least, I will have the time 
of the wedding postponed until I have his double 
in irons. This is the Madam’s brutal work.” 
His train of thought was interrupted by the cheer- 
ful voice of the clerk, who said: 

“ Hello ! Claud, what brings you here ? I 
have not seen you for an age. You remember 
we were law students together. Neither one of 
us have, so far as I know, set the world on fire 
with our brilliant achievements. I never see that 
you have cases in court.” 

Will, I am docketed for next week; for this 
reason I want to see the knife that was found in 
Harry’s hand when the murder was committed. 
Here is an order from the Judge.” 

It is all right so far as the order is concerned, 
but you cannot see it until it is produced as evi- 


304 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


dence in court. You are lawyer enough to know 
this. I feel sorry for Harry, and do not believe 
he is guilty, but he might as well be guilty so far 
as Madam Grundy is concerned; he will never get 
over it ; and who is brave enough to take the trou- 
ble to see the wrong is righted? The public will 
never forgive him for not being guilty after so 
much printers’ ink has been wasted.” 

“ I will see that Harry is righted if it takes 
the remainder of my existence. The public will 
tolerate him, and this will be a beginning; time 
must do the rest.” 

“ Claude, it has impoverished you. All of 
your practice is gone and you have been out- 
footed by your schoolmates who will not appre- 
ciate your noble efforts. If you make a fresh 
start, practice in the civil courts. This criminal 
law throws one against the darkest side of human 
life. I used to have some tender pangs of sym- 
pathy, but now it is a regular grind where human 
beings are so much wheat for the mill.” 

“ Will, you must oblige me, this time. The 
Judge’s order stands between you and danger. 
For the sake of old times at college, do this for 
me.” 

“ Flave you the number of the package ? It 
would take me a week to find the evidence.” 
While he was going backwards through the dates 
the detective thrust a slip of paper in the hand 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 305 

of the young attorney. The act was so cleverly 
done that the clerk did not suspect the stranger 
of having any interest in the request. Claud ran 
his hand in his pocket and produced the slip with 
No. 143,284 on it and handed it to his young 
friend. 

“ I do not find this number. Strange ! it 
should be here. Ah! I have it.” While the 
clerk was tracing up the entry, Claud untied the 
package, though not before Mr. Thompson had 
mentally registered the new number, and with an 
adroit movement scraped some of the blood into 
an envelope. 

“ Claud, I don’t understand how these num- 
bers could have been changed. This is a serious 
matter; tell me is this the knife you gave Harry? ” 

Claude turned pale as he examined closely the 
blade. The notches were there that he had made 
when he opened the tin can. “Yes, Will, I am 
sorry to see that it is the knife I gave Harry.” 

“ Excuse me. Will, this is my friend, Mr. 
Thompson; I should have introduced you sooner. 
I was so intent upon this business, that I quite 
forgot my older friend here; he is not a lawyer, 
nor the son of a lawyer.” 

“ Pardon the question,” Mr. Thompson sug- 
gested, “ do you not think that it is a clerical er- 
ror? No one could have changed the number 


3o6 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

without your knowing it. Has any one examined 
the knife before this day?” 

‘‘Yes; one of the detective bureau was here 
not long since.” 

“Did he have an order from the court?” 

“ I am sure of it ; let me find it ; here it is in the 
same pigeon-hole.” 

The detective glanced curiously at the scrap 
of paper, whose handwriting was wonderfully like 
a sample he had seen before. His quick eye 
caught a mark on the instrument that could not 
be erased ; it was a grease spot on the upper left 
hand corner; the thumb mark was well preserved. 
“Good,” the elder man thought; “this is proof 
positive that Tim brought the forged order, that 
is well calculated to deceive a person that does not 
see the writing often.” 

“ Ah ! Madam, one more point of the law that 
I will score against you. The agency never issued 
this order.” With a courteous bow, and with 
thanks, the friends walked across the arched hall 
and descended the massive steps. 

“ Claud, you are sure this is the knife that you 
gave to Harry? Think over it carefully because 
the evidence will be valuable. You see that the 
subpoenas are all ready to serve; for this reason 
I must get my evidence ready.” 

Mr. Thompson went to his room, locked his 
door, and heated some water in his -china mug. 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


307 


He turned the gas up until a soft bubbling noti- 
fied him that the water was warm enough. He 
washed two of his thin glass slides and placed 
some of the powdered blood on the under one. 
A drop of the warm liquid dissolved the particles. 
He sealed the edges of the specimen with wax and 
placed it on the stage of his microscope, adjusted 
the micrometrical scale, and graduated the light 
from the concave mirror below. 

“ I thought so,” the detective exclaimed ; 
“ oval, nucleated, diameter one two-thousandth 
into ninety-ninth of an inch; no tendency to run 
into rouleaux; not biconcave, but convex; it is 
the blood of a perch.” 

“ Crime overreaches itself. I can clear Harry 
with this evidence in my possession. Go slow- 
ly; do not precipitate a climax at this time. A 
false move now would be my ruin.” Then a great 
thought came to him: “perhaps this is the real 
weapon that my boy had in his hand. I see it 
all. No man was really murdered; a great insur- 
ance swindle, and the man that was supposed to 
be killed is the man with the wax face. How could 
they get a certificate of burial from the coroner 
if the man was not really dead? I must see that 
affidavit.” 

He put his instrument in the oaken case and 
hurried to the coroner’s office, where the clerk 
passed him over the paper. “ This is singular ; 


308 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

every line and word is legally correct. They have 
evidently substituted a corpse from one of the 
dissecting rooms. The hand of the Vampire is 
behind all of this.'’ 

With a nervous step he walked to the office of 
Claud. His unusual brusqueness startled the 
young attorney. Mr. Thompson, what has hap- 
pened? I never knew you to be so excited.” 

“ Claud, detectives do not know it all. Here 
have we been years in tracing up this murder case, 
and just as we go to trial I have found out that 
the man never was murdered; a huge insurance 
swindle. You must postpone this trial ; your case 
will not suffer in consequence of the delay.” 

“ I do not grasp the idea,” the lawyer excitedly 
exclaimed. Sit down and tell me all about it.” 

“ I find by examining the specimen of blood 
through my microscope that it is the blood of a 
fish, and Harry is innocent.” 

“You don’t tell me! ! This will alter all of 
my line of defence; and to think that the poor boy 
suffered for the villainy of others and thus cov- 
ered up a robbery. Well! well! Mr. Thomp- 
son, you are a wonderful man.” 

“ It don’t seem so wonderful when we think 
how much time we wasted in this investigation. 
To the point; you must throw the case back on 
the docket for my sake.” 

“ When we can clear Harry so easily? Not a 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 309 

bit of it. Thompson, we will annihilate them,” 
Claud took several turns in the waltz step around 
the square table until he stood before the detec- 
tive, who good naturedly collared the young man, 
and said : “ Don’t be a fool and ruin us all. How 

do I know that the knives have not been changed ? 
You remember the numbers were changed on the 
packages; so cool down, and postpone the case.” 

“ This is another matter altogether. There 
is no end of ifs and ands in this business; I am dis- 
appointed.” 

‘‘ Suppose I should put you in the way of mak- 
ing four or five thousand dollars ; would you then 
object? ” 

“ You are joking; that is more money than I 
ever expect to be worth. Tell me about your 
scheme.” 

“ Simple enough. The insurance money that 
has been thus stolen must be refunded. I will put 
all of the evidence in your hands and you can 
break the news to the company. They will pay 
you a good round sum for the information that 
is worth a gold mine to them.” 

“ I will go at once. Such a windfall does not 
often come to a poor attorney who has struggled 
for years to right a monstrous wrong.” 

“ You will do nothing of the kind, Claud. 
They will require the proof, then what will you 
say? ” 

“ I was a little hasty. A cool head is worth a 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


310 

dozen like mine. For this reason I will never 
make a successful lawyer. I would have gone 
to the office of the company and given them this 
valuable information, and I would have had a 
foohs pay for the trouble.” 

“Claud, you are young; your life is before 
you; experience is the best teacher on earth. I 
will tell you when it is time to impart to them this 
secret that must remain a secret. Not one word 
of this to Harry.” 

The lawyer looked intently into his compan- 
ion’s face and said: “ How could such a dastard- 
ly crime be perpetrated on such a company ? 
Some devil in human shape must have concocted 
this swindle.” 

“ Yes, it was a devil in human form; that devil 
was a woman.” 

“ A woman ! ” Claud exclaimed. “ Mr. Thomp- 
son, have you the proof? She should be run 
down; she should be burned alive. What had 
poor Harry to do with this robbery? ” 

“Absolutely nothing; the boy was sacrificed. 

I cannot understand why she should have such 
a hatred for this wronged man. Seal your lips 
for the present, Claud, and I will guarantee that 
the reward will be yours.” 

“ Who is to pay back this large sum of money > 
to the insurance company, and what did this Vam- 
pire do with the illy-gotten gains ? ” 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 3II 

Blanche’s father,” slowly responded the de- 
tective, who walked forward from the bookcase 
to the window, and stood for a moment amused 
by the dark mass of humanity that surged by in 
one continuous stream on the sidewalk below. 

“Come, Thompson, you are joking; teil me 
that you mistake. But do not accuse the father 
of the girl I love of such a dreadful crime.” 

“ I hope that I do mistake. My work must 
stand or fall upon the issue. If he is not guilty, 
no harm is done, because the secret is with you 
and me.” 

“ Blanche will suffer for her father’s sin. She 
is a proud, honorable woman. I see it all. This 
merchant was led astray by the wickedness of this 
Vampire. Others must bear the unjust reproach 
because the world is truly bad. I do not desire 
this reward, Mr. Thompson; I could not respect 
myself. This money would be a curse that would 
tinge with gloom all of my later years. The p'^or 
girl is unhappy. Sometimes she speaks so af- 
fectionately of Harry; then she dislikes him; I 
do not understand these changes that move from 
bad to worse, and you with your wonderful de- 
tective skill are deepening the sorrows.” 

“ Sorrows that will make us better for the end- 
ing,” Thompson reverently whispered. “ Do as 
I direct, and your later years shall make amends 


I 


^12 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

for the troubles of to-day, without the sacrifice 
of honor on your side of the case.” 

“ Blanche does not love my chum like she 
should love him. I fear that I am apparently 
alienating her affection. I note the little marks 
of love that a glance betrays — the little sugges- 
tive manners that need no interpreter to translate 
their meaning.” 

“ No one will blame you for the nobleness that 
must be a winning card with any woman.” For 
a moment the officer of the law was silent; with 
his penetrating mind the position of the merchant’s 
daughter became an axiom. The wooing of the 
man with the wax face was darkening the clear 
pool of innocence. This drifting away from 
the old love was a victory for Madge, though the 
means that accomplished this result hurt the no- 
blest side of the officer’s disposition. Again his 
manly resolve placed the tempter Satan behind 
him; with a firm resolve he stared steadfastly at 
the street. 

He turned quickly to Claud, and asked : “ Is 

the bicycle at the foot of the stairway yours ? ” 

“ At your service, my friend,” answered the 
lawyer, who watched the strange man mount and 
move rapidly away. “ There he goes, the grand- 
est man that ever lived. Who knows what is in 
his head? Time will tell.” 


CHAPTER XX. 


MADGE IS LOCATED. 

Tim is in a hurry,” the detective remarked, 
as he sped along on his silent steed. “ These 
rubber tires make no noise. That scoundrel in 
front of me has not cast one glance over his shoul- 
der, but glances from side to side in a guilty way 
that plainly indicates that the trouble is thicken- 
ing around him. He of all others is the man I 
wish to secure.” 

The pursued man reached the ferry just in time 
to dismount from his hack, and go to the farther 
side of the boat, where the passengers were scat- 
tered in small groups. Mr. Thompson took a 
position on the other side where he could note 
every movement of the Madam’s confidante. 

The culprit’s wiry legs skimmed along the un- 
used thoroughfares, with their unpaved streets 
and uneven sidewalks. Never in all of his life had 
Thompson walked so rapidly. This haste placed 
the detective at a disadvantage, and must have 
produced in the mind of the pursued, some feel- 
ing of fear. So intent was the hackman on reach- 


314 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


ing- his destination, that he neglected the usual 
precaution and turned into the gloomy portals 
of a very large building. 

The pursuer, with rapid steps, ran into the 
arms of a policeman who was standing the dis- 
tance of the asylum’s front from the messenger, 
whose over-haste caused both men to gaze in the 
same direction. 

Look out where you are walking or I will 
run you in,” exclaimed the big officer, as he pick- 
ed his hat up from the dust of the sidewalk, and 
brushed it with his coat sleeve. 

“ I beg your pardon, sir. The offence was un- 
intentional on my part.” The detective was cha- 
grined at this turn of affairs, because he would 
be compelled to explain the seeming haste that 
very much resembled a pursuit. He was sure 
he had become an object of suspicion when the 
officer said: 

“ Going at a two-forty gait, eh ! after that 
chap? He is a slick one; there are enough 
counts against him to send him to the pen for 
five hundred years, yet he always goes scot free 
for want of proper evidence. No one under- 
stands his case, so show up and have an end of 
it.” 

The detective turned back the flap of his coat 
and displayed his star to the guardian of the peace. 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 315 

who merely glanced at this sign of authority and 
passed to the other end of his beat. 

“ One moment, sir ; what kind of a place is 
this? I am after Tim on another count. He 
is suspected of robbing a bank. I may get a 
pointer in there that will be valuable to me. When 
Tim comes out will you see that I am permitted 
to enter? Such institutions are usually private.’' 

“ It is an insane asylum and regularly regis- 
tered. Everything seems to be conducted fairly 
well; at least I have never heard any complaints 
against the establishment. Certainly you shall 
go in, or I will know the reason why.” 

A sudden hush fell upon the officers as they 
watched Tim glide to the ferry landing. His lit- 
tle pea-green eyes roved everywhere. He had cal- 
culated the boat’s time of departure to the half 
minute. The policeman rapped loudly upon the 
heavy door with his club. This summons brought 
to the entrance a weazen-faced attendant whose 
smirking manner was in keeping with his manner 
of speech. Perhaps the big star of the policeman 
had something to do with this obsequiousness. 

“ Show the gentleman your asylum, and be 
quick about it, or I’ll know the reason why.” 
With this admonition the officer walked away. 

“ Come right along, sir; I am pleased to know 
you. Ever been crazy yourself? No? Then I 
v/as mistaken; no harm intended.” 


3i6 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

“ I never had this misfortune. I am a doctor 
of psychology and had charge of one of the fin- 
est asylums in Europe. There is something fas- 
cinating in the science. I have lived long enough 
to learn that one-half of the world is truly insane. 
This malady can assume a thousand different 
forms — money, love, ambition, hatred, jealousy; 
these are only degrees of madness, where the mind 
strains to reach its goal. Adverse circumstances 
balk the jaded steed; presto! you have a de- 
mented creature, ready for the asylum or the sui- 
cide’s grave. Insaneness is a gradation of sane- 
ness.” 

“ Psychology, sir; I never heard of such a 
thing. Is it bad? I suppose it is where people 
have fits and rave, or something of the sort. 
We have no such malady in here. Some new fad, 
I suppose, like theosophy. People are getting 
too smart to live. The world will surely be de- 
stroyed.” 

“ I hope no such catastrophe will overtake us 
until I have visited your model establishment, 
which I am sure is run on business principles, or 
such a capable person would not be the manager 
of such an institution.” 

A broad grin of satisfaction rewarded the de- 
tective’s biting sarcasm. Better this than too 
much sense. He continued : “ I suppose you 

require prompt settlements for services rendered.” 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


317 


“ The gentleman that just this moment left 
gave me a piece of exchange that will be hard to 
dispose of, as we do not go very often to the 
city.” 

“ Perhaps I can manage this business for you, 
if the piece of exchange is not a large amount. 
What class of patients have you to deal with; 
those of the melancholy type? I mean by this, 
those who are mildly insane.” 

We keep only shady patients.” 

“ I do not understand your words, perfectly,” 
the detective replied. 

“ Morphine eaters that the quality folks send 
here to be treated. They pay us well and no 
questions are asked.” 

“ In other words, they pay you to hide evi- 
dence of disgrace tliat this habit brings to the 
various families.” 

“ Now we understand each other perfectly. 
Come, I will be pleased to show you through these 
gloomy corridors.” 

“ How dismal everything seems to be. I 
should think with the class of patients you have 
that you could make life more pleasant for these 
poor creatures.” 

What is the odds to them ? They are under 
the influence of morphine all of the time. We do 
not try to cure them. Death soon brings them 
happiness, and their relatives are thus relieved.” 


3i8 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

“ As we pass along tell me the causes that pro- 
duced these terrible conditions. This is a new 
field for investigation. I am delighted to meet 
with so polite a manager. Give me your name in 
full; when I return to my country you shall have 
honorable mention in the leading medical jour- 
nal.” 

“ That was a happy thought,” the detective 
said, as the guardian stepped to the office for a 
moment. “ He swallowed the bait, hook and all.” 
When he returned, he handed the visitor his card, 
not that the degrees had been honestly acquired 
at any seat of learning. 

“ Be sure to get the name spelled correctly ; 
I just dote on seeing my name in print.” The 
small man ambled along in a self-satisfied man- 
ner, and explained the nature of each case, as 
they halted for a moment at each cell door. 

Twice Mr. Thompson passed the cell that 
Madge occupied. A throb of indignation almost 
unmanned him; dirt and neglect, nothing more. 
“ Would you mind it if I entered one of these cells 
or, perhaps, several ? ” 

“Not at all; you see we do not guard them 
closely. The morphine habit is our best friend; 
they would not leave if they could.” 

“ To produce this effect, you must increase the 
dose with a fatal result. Am I not right?” 

“ Entirely so ; there is no cure for these un- 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 319 

fortunates when once the habit is formed. Here 
they dream their lives away, dead to themselves 
and dead to the world. 

While the officious little man repeated these 
words in a professional manner, his visitor was 
gazing wistfully at the dark corner where Madge 
was seated. The shadowy outline of her face was 
turned towards them. The whiteness of her skin 
was brought into a stronger contrast by the dark 
background. It is the confinement that produces 
this . pallor. He comforted himself with this 
thought. Another fear came to him; her list- 
lessness was marked; she did not appear to listen 
to what these two men were saying when it so 
nearly concerned herself. 

Again the superintendent was summoned 
away. The nervous steps of this guardian grew 
fainter. In a moment the detective was inside of 
the cell standing by Madge's side. Her large, 
sorrowful eyes were aimlessly looking at him. 
“ Madge, do you not know me ? I am a friend 
of Harry's, and have come to this place to rescue 
you.” 

The name of her lover brought a quick gleam 
of recognition to her face which was instantly 
suppressed, then her frightened glances sought the 
entrance. “ They have been punishing her. This 
is evident by the way she trembles.” In his an- 
ger he called the curses of heaven on This Yam- 


320 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


pire, who was a woman without a soul, a harlot 
without remorse. The frown upon his face made 
the poor mad girl shrink closer to the wall. 

Do not be frightened, my child ; I am the 
person that took you out of the other asylum 
and will take you away from this one, if you will 
keep your wits and not give way to those bursts 
of feeling. We must say what we have to say 
before the keeper comes. ’’ 

“ Does Harry love me, because I am mad? ” 

“ He loves you because you are not mad ; loves 
you for yourself ; he is grieving all of the time.’’ 

What a wonderful power love is ; it has wreck- 
ed nations and kingdoms. How this unfortunate 
feels the thrill that shall yet restore her reason. 
Her future is in Harry’s hands; woe to him if he 
be traitor to the trust. Yet I have sworn that 
the man with the wax face shall never ruin 
Blanche. 

“Has Harry’s trial come off yet?” The in- 
mate pronounced these words so deliberately that 
her rescuer was thrown off of his guard and re- 
plied : “ It comes up this coming week ; can you 

save him, Madge?” 

“ Harry is innocent. He was in the closet 
when the deed was committed.” A shudder con- 
vulsed her person. She placed her hands before 
her face as if to shut out the terrible memory, 
and relapsed into her usual condition. 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 32I 

“ There ! there ! Madge ; do not give way to 
those symptoms. Tell me, how do they treat 
you here? ” 

A cunning look came into her eyes. She look- 
ed cautiously around and then whispered : “ They 
try to make me a morphine eater, but I love Har- 
ry, and he would not love me if I ate the drug. 
I have sense enough left to know this.” 

“ Harry will be so glad when I tell him what 
a brave girl you are; keep up the deception for 
a little while; and you will yet be happy.” 

The girl drew from beneath her mattress a 
handful of parvules and dexterously emptied the 
morphine into his coat pocket. “ They would 
whip me if I did not take them.” 

“ Enough to kill a horse,” the detective growl- 
ed. “ God bless you, Madge ; you are a noble 
girl; keep the vials; it will be evidence in your 
favor.” 

The tired head of the girl sank peacefully upon 
the pillow. He stepped to her side and gently 
raised the eyelids. “ Thank God there is no mor- 
phine in those eyes.” He held the empty vials 
in his hand and waited for the keeper to approach. 
“ I have made a thorough examination of this 
patient ; she must be far gone ; see these evidences 
of this dreadful habit. How was her case diag- 
nosed? ” 

“ Crossed in love and tried to drown her sor- 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


322 

rows by using this drug; she even frequented 
opium joints.” 

“This is dreadful. Who made this charge?” 

“ An uptown boarding-house keeper. I have 
it in writing; a wise precaution on my part, for 
sundry reasons.” The speaker gave the detec- 
tive a knowing wink that was not lost. This 
movement strengthened Thompson’s opinion of 
this servile creature, who could be bought for gold. 
“ Would you for a round sum of money give a 
certificate of the death of one of your patients? ” 

“ I have done so several times, but the consid- 
eration must be worth the risk. There is a skin- 
flint lawyer trying to make just such terms for the 
girl that you examined, but the shady boarding- 
house keeper wants us to give her an overdose, 
and thereby put her to sleep forever.” 

“ Then the lawyer does not desire her death ? 
He only wishes you to issue the certificate.” 

“ He wishes her out of the way. It seems that 
the case is urgent, for this reason he wishes the 
paper at once.” 

“ What do you purpose doing? ” kindly asked 
the visitor. “ I have taken quite an interest in 
this young girl; consequently I will count you 
down ten one-hundred dollar crisp banknotes if 
you will turn the patient over to me. You can 
make both edges of the blade cut ; issue the death 
certificate to the lawyer, and the girl to me. I 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 323 

have a peculiar line of treatment for just such a 
case : if I can cure her, she will be well taken care 
of ; if I fail, why then I will return her to you. This 
is a fair proposition, is it not?” 

“ Entirely so,” the manager replied. It 
suits me exactly; you shall have my patient with 
the distinct understanding that you will be re- 
sponsible for her morals. Will you take her 
now?” 

“ Keep her here for the present. Should they 
desire proof of her death you can hypnotize her 
and lay her out; you understand me perfectly.” 

“ Capital idea,” exclaimed the keeper. “ One 
question more: Why are you so particularly in- 
terested in this one patient? I have others.” 

“ Her madness has reached a peculiar turn. 
She is just the subject that I wish to handle. If 
you do not feel like doing so, speak out; I can 
get patients from any of the asylums.” 

“ Say no more ; it is a bargain. I will do just 
as you direct me. The risk is great.” The little 
man was busy turning over in his mind the dan- 
ger that would follow a failure of the plans. The 
detective reassured him by saying: “Tut, tut! 
man, I live in Europe. We will go to the office 
and I will count the money. Half I will pay 
down, the remainder you shall have when the girl 
is delivered to me, and no one else. Treat her 
right and you shalEnot regret it.” 


324 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


The greedy, small eyes of the man danced as 
the crisp banknotes were counted and placed in 
his hands. His respect for the stranger increased 
as he noted the roll of bills that was secured with 
a rubber band. “ Sir,” he said to the visitor, 
you promised to cash a certain piece of exchange 
for me.” 

“ So I did ; let me look at it ? Why, it is a ster- 
ling exchange; I can use it at once as I have a 
remittance to forward.” 

The face value of the draft was laid before the 
delighted man, who rolled each package separate- 
ly and thrust the exchange money into one pock- 
et and the hush-money into the other. “ Don’t 
like to mix business affairs.” As the visitor was 
passing out the host added : “ Don’t forget to 

make a complimentary notice of my efficiency.” 

This piece of exchange is a hundred points 
in my favor. At last I have the banker that has 
been supplying the sinews of war. It will mate- 
rially hasten the end when we get on the other side 
of the ocean. If he has securities for such a reck- 
less expenditure these securities must be forged. 
This information I hoped to secure through the 
Madam’s lawyer. He passed the valuable paper 
three times between his first finger and thumb. 
The parchment feeling was a reminder of old 
England in better times. He folded it twice and 
placed it securely in the now famous pocketbook 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 325 

that was to play its formidable part in righting a 
great wrong. 

Mr. Thompson crossed on the ferry, boarded 
an uptown car and went in a round-about way 
to the rendezvous. He was fully satisfied that 
Madge would receive better treatment now that 
money paved the way for the little comforts that 
she needed. The delayed payment would insure 
this, so he dismissed this from his mind and stroll- 
ed along in a contented manner that softened the 
ruggedness of his nature. 

This pleasurable feeling was momentary, be- 
cause he saw Harry with his cold, impressionable 
face staring ahead, looking at the back of the 
driver with an intensity that was painful. Blanche 
sat by his side, the same trusting woman. They 
did not look around, and as they slowly passed 
from sight he thought : “ I must see how the land 

lays in that direction. I will go there, to-night. 

I must stop this courtship. Why should this pam- 
pered darling of fortune have all of the sweets of 
life, and Madge, the outcast, all of its bitterness? 
I have noticed within the last week that a cool- 
ness has come between Harry and Claud. I see 
the trail of the serpent over it all. What a terri- 
ble woman ! ” 

That evening Mr. Thompson stood in the shad- 
ow of the shrubbery, looking into the open win- 
dow of the merchant’s costly residence. He saw 


326 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

what a poor trusting woman Blanche really was. 
A chill had fallen on the household. The mer- 
chant, his wife, and Blanche, were seated at the 
late dinner table. The well-trained servants glid- 
ed around while the meal was eaten in silence. 
When the meal was ended, the merchant passed 
behind the heavy velvet portieres and was unus- 
ually busy assorting the packages of papers that 
were neatly and systematically tied with red tape. 
Thompson’s interest increased as this packing 
away continued. 

“ Something has stirred up this hornet’s nest. 
That guilty man is preparing to go to Europe. 
Here comes Harry up the walk; I trust they will 
occupy the seat in the arbor, then I can play the 
miserable part of eavesdropper. How much it 
goes against the grain. It is for the good of 
others.” The approach of the couple terminated 
this train of thought. How intently he listened. 
Perhaps the toil of years was slipping from his 
grasp and the vile actors in this play would scatter 
over all of the world. The voice of Blanche con- 
firmed this surmise as she pleaded: 

“ I know, Harry, that you will go with us to 
Europe. Do not say no, because I cannot bear 
to think that so much space will separate us. We 
are all so unhappy here ; I hope we will never see 
this country again.” 

Who will look after your father’s business 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 327 


should I go? I ask this question in all candor. 
You know that your father’s partner has quietly 
withdrawn from the firm, and drawn considerable 
amounts which has crippled the finances of the firm 
very much. If your father goes, people will be- 
come suspicious. Once rumor is started, you can 
imagine what will follow.” 

“ Had he the right to draw these sums, Har- 
ry, and leave my father in such a position ? This 
is what makes papa so cross.” 

“ He took the right. The truth is, Blanche, 
that the firm is going to pieces unless your father 
gives his affairs more attention. I think it a very 
unwise move on his part.” 

“You mean his trip to Europe?” 

“ Exactly ; what can I do when both partners 
are gone? This will be an additional slander. 
I presume that I will have another scandal to add 
to the charge of murder. The prospect is not 
flattering.” 

“ Your books will speak for themselves. You 
can prove to the world that you are innocent.” 

“ Yes, if you can catch the ear of the world. 
Truth wears leaden shoes, and rumor has the 
speed of light.” 

The eyes of Blanche filled with tears as she 
turned to Harry and asked: “Has my father 
been honorable in his transactions since you have 


328 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

known him? I want you to tell me the truth, 
Harry? 

“ It is not fair of you to ask me such a ques- 
tion, because I am not permitted to tell to others 
the business of the office. Please to think of the 
position in which I would be placed. Do not in- 
sist, Blanche, for my sake.” 

“ I will ask one more question : What is the 
trouble between Claud and yourself? You are 
not so friendly as you were once.” 

“ You ought to know, Blanche, since you wrote 
this letter.” At the same time he passed the mis- 
sive over to her, and looked frigidly at her. 

“I wrote a letter, Harry? You have taken 
leave of your senses. Let me see it. A flush of 
indignation mounted to the roots of her hair as 
she slowly perused the contents, then with a fine 
scorn that was withering, she turned squarely 
around to her companion and said: You think 
so meanly of me after knowing me all these years ? 
I have not deserved this at your hands.” 

A feeling of intense meanness overpowered 
Harry as he saw by the light that streamed 
through the open window, the tears slowly trickle 
down her pale cheeks. “Forgive me, Blanche; 
I am a brute to even harbor such thoughts. Some 
evil destiny pursues me relentlessly. It rises up 
like a specter everywhere I turn. I don’t un- 
derstand what it all means. I have never wrong- 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 329 

ed a living soul, and this forgery (for it must be 
one) has embittered Claud, who has stood by me 
like the noble soul that he is. Now that I need 
his services most this letter has done its malicious 
work and we are friends no longer.” 

“ Why not go to him at once, and ask him 
what it all means? If friends are truly friends, the 
misunderstanding can be explained. If you are 
in the wrong, you should certainly not be ashamed 
to be told of it ; if you are in the right, you .should 
by all means have the opportunity to defend your- 
self. This is a clever forgery. I could almost 
swear that it is my writing. I do not understand 
the motive for writing such a communication.” 

“ I will forgive you, Harry, this time, but nev- 
er accuse me of such a terrible deed again. I 
am bewildered at the change in my father, at the 
change in you, the change in Claud; we are all 
working at cross purposes, and all of us so un- 
happy.” 

He could not control the emotions that im- 
pelled him to press this noble girl to his heart. 
It was a jewel that he wished to wear there for- 
ever. The suffering of Madge stood up like a 
specter before him, and with a quiet good-night, 
he passed out of the gate. 

This noble girl slowly walked to the house 
and sought her room. She fully understood the 
situation of her lover, because he was too honor- 


330 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

able to deceive her. Right well she remembered 
the parting at the carriage gate, when Harry 
rushed madly down the street, pursued by the 
phantom of opinion. It was his first lesson ; 
others had come to him — such sad, sad lessons ! 
How they had changed his once jo3^ous nature and 
made him suspicious of every person! The lit- 
tleness of life was the last lesson of all. He was 
her Harry, and would be forever. She was not 
jealous of the mad girl. Thus she laid her tired 
head on the pillow and wept. 

Thompson arose from his cramped position. 
With his coat sleeve he brushed away some truant 
tears, and muttered : ‘‘ Blanche must never know 

of her father’s dishonor. He will not go for a 
week. This will give me time to act promptly. 
He will not go till after the trial, because he is 
summoned as a witness.” He picked up the let- 
ter that they had overlooked and growled : “ The 
Madam wishes to deprive Harry of counsel, and 
thus lessen his chances for acquittal, fool that she 
is. She is rushing on to her destruction. I will 
put the letters on this page, on the stage of my 
instrument, and the truth will be revealed.” He 
made his way to the gate-way, his mind filled with 
the grand woman that made him better for know- 
ing her. 

The Madam was absent from the house most 
of the time. Boarder after boarder had dropped 




THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


331 


by the way, not on account of any physical weak- 
ness, superinduced by lack of nourishing food. 
That close attention to business that makes such 
an institution a success was absent, and so des- 
olately absent that the house was rated as fourth- 
class. Leaf after leaf had been removed from the 
long table until it became a family concern. 

The indifference of the hostess puzzled him. 
He was still more puzzled by the parsimonious- 
ness of the menu. He had been studying her 
for days. Some extreme exultation turned her 
thoughts in a dozen different channels. An air 
of independence that was not natural made her 
indifferent to the welfare of her patrons. He ate 
his cold potato, grits and liver, with a hungry 
relish and went to his room, placed his hat over 
the keyhole and adjusted his low-power objective. 
“ It is as I thought,” he whispered ; “ she has 
gotten hold of one of Blanche’s letters. She has 
traced these characters with a soft pencil and filled 
them in with ink. It lacks strength of purpose. 
The criminal sticks out in every letter and line. 
Wrong-doing reaps its own reward.” He had 
hardly placed this additional evidence in his pock- 
etbook and removed his hat from the knob, when 
a soft rap on the door was followed by an invitation 
to enter. 

“ Well, my silent cavalier, I have not seen you 
for an age. Somehow we always miss each other ; 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


332 

you are going while I am coming, and I am go- 
ing while you are coming. What do you do with 
yourself? ” 

“ I suppose that this question is one of your 
pleasantries. I do not ask you how many peas 
you put in the soup, or how many pints of water 
you put in the milk, or how often the hash is 
warmed over, or — or — ” 

“ Stop ! stop ! I shall pay you for this. I will 
put the same potato at your place, the warmed- 
over steak that several have tried in vain to de- 
molish, the same rice pudding with the six big 
raisins in it, the dish of beans, remnants from a 
dozen plates.” 

He threw up his arms with a gesture of despair 
and meekly exclaimed : “ Don’t ! don’t ! I sur- 

render; I am down.” 

“ I will pardon such audacity if you will prom- 
ise to take me to see Boothe play ‘ Fransisca de 
Remine.’ I have seen it twice. There is a hor- 
rible fascination about the play that charms me; 
it is so awfully human.” 

“ I cannot take you, to-night, because I am 
going to sit up with a sick friend. To-morrow 
night, I shall feel honored if you will accompany 
me.” 


CHAPTER XXL 


TIM VERY ILL. 

‘‘You will be too late; this is the last night. 
Say, are you a doctor? I have a friend that is 
sick enough to die. He has served me faithfully 
for years ; I cannot see him die for want of med- 
ical attention. ’’ 

“ Why don’t he go to the hospital? I am not 
a regular practitioner; they would arrest me for 
practicing without a license. There are plenty of 
doctors that will be glad to serve you.” 

“ This is a peculiar case and one where tact 
is needed. It is in the slum quarter of the city 
where no doctor would go.” 

The detective was silent for a moment; the 
thought came to him that the woman was pre- 
meditating his death. Reassurance came with the 
afterthought, as he replied: 

“ You ask me to go on an errand of mercy 
with a prospect that my life will be endangered? 
Certainly the prospect it not flattering. I would 
strain any reasonable point to oblige you but really 


334 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


you ask too much. If you will accompany me on 
this errand of mercy I will go.” 

“ I would not soil my skirts by walking on 
these back streets. You would be doing me a 
real service; please be the good Samaritan for this 
once.” 

How will I find the house, the street, the 
number? It is not a pleasant undertaking to 
make inquiry where every man suspects every 
other man, and one may get for the asking a 
knife stuck into his ribs in a very inconvenient 
spot.” 

“ If you will go, I will find the means of get- 
ting you there. The case is urgent. Will you 
go? Say either yes, or no.” 

I will run upstairs and get my medicine case 
and be ready to go at once.” He well knew who 
the sick man was, but how he had so completely 
outwitted the Madam was one of the unsolved 
problems that he was compelled to give up. 

When he returned, the Madam was walking 
the carpet with nervous steps. Every now and 
then she would peep out of the window as if she 
was looking for some one. She understood the 
signal, and turned to the would-be doctor with a 
charming smile and said : The carriage is wait- 

ing; I assure you the visit is a worthy one and 
God will bless you for it.” 

He did not appear to notice the fact that he 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


335 


entered the hack in the narrow side alley. His 
mind was filled with the importance of this visit, 
to him, if his reasoning was correct. Tim was 
the pivot upon which turned the weight of evi- 
dence. He sat well back in his seat and drove 
many squares before he reached the rougly-paved 
streets that were familiar to him. The driver was 
cautious and did not approach the house nearer 
than four squares. When he alighted a small 
boy was waiting, whose thin, piping voice whined : 

“ Much’l er giv. Mister? ” 

He slipped a new quarter into the little fel- 
low’s hand. It had a magical effect, for the boy 
trotted in front of him and every now and then 
the youthful guide would steal a sly glance at the 
money and move forward with a broader grin on 
his face. 

“ Right in here, sir ; my name is Bob. This 
is the place.” When he had said thus much 
he darted down a narrow alley and was out of sight 
in a moment. He was sorry he had given the 
boy a quarter because the little street arab would 
tell others; then there would be no end to the 
annoyance, not to speak of the notoriety the act 
would create. 

The darkness of the narrow passageway was 
not reassuring. He placed his hands on either 
side of the greasy plastering and groped to the 
farther end. He knocked four times, which was 


336 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

the signal that the hackman gave him. The door 
was opened just wide enough to admit him. 
Then it was closed and bolted. He could see that 
a woman was bending over the bed of a sick man. 
The dim outlines were reflections from a shaded 
lamp, whose smell was stifling. He sat by the 
bed on a low stool, and lifted the shade high 
enough to see that the sick man was Tim, his old 
friend Tim, the muchly sought-after Tim. 

The features of the patient were drawn Avith 
suffering. His skin was dry as powder; fever 
was devouring him. The voice on the other side 
of the bed asked: “ Is he very sick, doctor? ” 

“ His condition is not favorable, yet I have 
had worse cases.” 

“ Will he die, doctor? ” This was said in such 
a pleading tone that the detective’s heart was 
touched. Something in the voice arrested his 
attention. He turned up one side of the shade. 
This movement gave him a full view of the nurse’s 
face. His hand trembled visibly. Fortunately 
his face was in the shade. Her anxiety for Tim 
caused the nervousness to pass unnoticed. 

It was Minnie, the shop girl, that knew more 
of Madge than any one, and whose reticence was 
so annoying. “ What a wreck of womanhood,” 
he mentally exclaimed. “ Dissipation and vice 
soon finish all that is noble in man, or woman ; 
it s always down, down, but never up. This poor 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 337 

woman could tell him that which he wanted most 
to know.” He buried the question in his soul be- 
cause Minnie would be suspicious and defeat the 
object of his visit. 

“ Go and lie down ; you are worn out with 
nursing. Is there no one to help you? He will 
be sick some time ; the fever must run its course.” 

“ Doctor, no one has any use for an old run- 
down shoe. There is little charity to expect when 
one is poor.” 

“Is he your husband, Madam?” 

“ Not exactly; we are living together; the ties 
of poverty bind us and misfortune has strengthen- 
ed the bond.” 

The detective sat by the side of the sick man 
and watched his irregular breathing. He placed 
the bulb in his mouth. The fever had run up to 
one hundred and two, while his pulse was eighty — 
a bad sign; it would be better to let him die, but 
for Minnie’s sake I will bring him around all right. 
I have use for him. He shall turn state’s evi- 
dence. These thoughts were interrupted by the 
restlessness of the woman, whose soul was bound 
up in this wily criminal. 

He opened the door softly. She had not un- 
dressed, but was lying across the bed, tossing and 
moaning in her restless sleep. He dropped some 
colorless drops into a dirty spoon and aroused her. 
“ Take this dose ; it will make you sleep, and you 


338 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

will feel refreshed. Your old man is not going 
to die. I will help you to nurse him back to 
health.” 

How cheering the words sounded in her ears. 
Her gratitude was so real that it brought tears 
to his eyes. Oh, Doctor,” she exclaimed in pa- 
thetic tones, “ I would kill myself if he should be 
taken away from me. He has been so good to 
me, and I have sunk so low in the scale of human- 
ity that I despise myself. We have lived a strange 
life. Sometimes Tim would be flush, then again 
he would be hard up, and thus we have lived. 
I know that he is wanted for various crimes, but 
he is mine, because no one else on earth would 
want him, and I suppose I am his, because no one 
else would want me.” 

All of the manliness of his soul was touched 
by the heartfelt appeals of this poor, fallen creat- 
ure. “ I will stand by you ; no harm will come to 
your old man; take this dose and you will feel 
better.” Gradually the tired head sank lower on 
the pillow and she was asleep. Her regular 
breathing assured him of this. He stole back to 
the bedside of the criminal. The dose he had 
prescribed worked like a charm; the flush of the 
face was not so deep. It was a mean thing to 
do, but the exigencies of the case demanded this 
petty meanness. The great game of life and 
death was at stake. Alone and single-handed he 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 339 

had fought a combination backed by wealth and 
influence. Resolutely he prodded the mattress of 
Tim’s bed and turned the patient over several 
times. The unusual thickness of the bed in the 
middle did not escape the sense of touch. He 
ran his hand under the sleeping man and pulled 
from beneath a stout manilla envelope that was 
greasy and dirty. The oiled silk within preserv- 
ed the contents perfectly. 

He removed the narrow red strap that kept 
the package together and examined each paper 
at a time. 

The detective rubbed his hands in a vigorous 
manner as he softly said : “ Yes ! yes ! my hearty, 

you are not a beggar with all of this wealth. 
Here are the government bonds that the agency 
is tracing. I will take the numbers in my book. 
Here is the missing package of money that they 
accused Harry of stealing — all but the banknotes 
found on Harry’s person.” The detective had all 
of his evidence filed by dates. He secured the 
list of numbers that he made in the boarding 
house. The number of the twenty dollar bill the 
Madam gave him for change was also here, but 
the note was absent, because he was keeping it 
for a souvenir in the self-same pocketbook. 

Here is the evidence of the sinking of the 
Jonna. The sheets that were so cleverly cut from 
the ledger. Claud must have this and secure the 


340 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

ten thousand dollars. I am sure the Insurance 
companies will willingly give this amount to re- 
cover seventy-five thousand. Ah ! there is 
Blanche, poor girl. I will not see the rugged fine 
head droop in shame for all of the money on earth. 
Here is the duplicate of Harry’s knife, with stains 
of blood on the blade.” Then his thoughts flew 
back to Madge, and the spasm that overwhelmed 
her when he spoke of the murder. ‘‘ My God ! 
am I putting a rope around the neck of the per- 
secuted girl ? ” The truths in this case seem to 
be hard to unravel, and time is pressing me sharp- 
ly- 

“ Here is a package of letters from the Madam, 
and some from the merchant. What does ic all 
mean? Tim is blackmailing them. He asks 
twenty-five thousand dollars from both to surren- 
der this terrible evidence. I see now why Tim 
has not been arrested. I cannot let this envelope 
go. This package of letters of the Madam’s will 
give me an inside view of her devilment and tell 
me of Madge.” 

He had timed the fever that was subsiding. 
Minnie was stirring. He took from his pocket a 
blank sheet of note paper with no watermark, no 
die mark, and wrote : “ I leave with your nurse 

one thousand dollars in assorted bank bills. Fly, 
because I have bought the evidence that you con- 
cealed under your mattress. You will be watch- 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 34I 

ed. If you do not leave the city within twenty- 
four hours you will be sent up.’' 

Well, my good woman, your old man is all 
right. He will be up and about by dinner time, 
so I will bid you good morning. Give these doses 
as I have directed and follow them implicitly if 
you value the protection of your protector.” 

The dawn was breaking grayly in the east 
when he passed out of the side door and picked 
his way to one of the great thoroughfares. The 
fish mongers and milkmen were too busy to notice 
the patient plodder as he entered his boarding 
house and quietly went to bed. 

A gentle rap at his door awakened him. He 
hastily put on his clothes and opened the door. 
The troubled face of the Madam saluted him with : 
** How is my man you went to see ? ” 

He has a fever and will be up in a few days. 
I left him resting comfortably. It is as much as 
a man’s life is worth to go into such a locality.” 

“ Do you think he will die ? ” 

“ Yes, if he lives long enough. Go and warm 
over my breakfast and I will tell you more. Why 
are you so interested in this person? Does he 
owe you for back board? Bad plan! bad plan! 
to trust anybody.” 

There were two anxious persons interested in 
Tim. One was the Madam and one was himself, 
but the reasons for being anxious differed widely. 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


342 

Perhaps this episode would bring disaster to his 
case. If he was hasty, it was the evidence that 
tempted him. The breakfast was unusually good. 
When the meal was ended he hastened to change 
his clothes and hurry to the slums. If the Madam 
met Tim the game was up and the covey would 
scatter to the ends of the earth. 

With these thoughts in his mind, he peddled 
buttons, suspenders, shoe strings, and paste jew- 
elry in the immediate vicinity of Tim’s dwelling. 
He waited for three-quarters of an hour for some 
signs of life, and made bold to rap on the door. 
No answer to knock number one. He rapped 
several times and impatiently opened the door 
and entered the sick man’s room. The bird had 
flown. A great sigh of relief escaped his lips as 
he picked up a note directed to an unknown 
friend. Another blunder, the detective acknowl- 
edged. The note was pathetic and read as fol- 
lows : 

“ God bless you, I know who you are by the 
writing. When this falls into your hands we will 
be miles away. God be good to you as you have 
been good to us. 

Signed, Minnie.” 

‘‘ Cast thy bread upon the waters,” he repeat- 
ed softly, ‘‘ and it shall be returned to you.” A 
contented feeling made him whistle softly as he 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 343 

closed the door and waited for the Madam to 
come. She was also disguised, but so indifferent- 
ly that a professional costumer would have laugh- 
ed at this effort to deceive. The detective squat- 
ted flat on the shady side of the sidewalk and 
watched her as she knocked, timidly at first ; then 
she rapped with more vigor, then threw back the 
door on its hinges in a half uncertain manner that 
indicated fear. She passed along the narrow hall 
and was gone fifteen minutes when she made her 
exit, thoroughly overcome by the disappearance 
of her confidante. 

He surmised that she would return to her home 
and change her thin disguise for a street costume. 
The watcher sauntered leisurely along, offering 
his wares to those who did not care to buy. When 
he cleared the slum streets, he quickened his 
steps, boarded a car, and alighted some distance 
from the residence of the mysterious man with 
the wax face. From the movements of the 
Madam he would judge of the seriousness of the 
situation. 

Within an hour this conscienceless woman 
was knocking at the front door of the Night Owl. 
The imperative manner of knocking brought a 
servant to the entrance who was not surprised at 
the visit, or the time of day when the visit was 
made. 

Without waiting for excuses, the excited worn- 


344 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


an pushed by the well-trained servant and disap- 
peared within the gloomy hallway. The informa- 
tion she gained from the inmate quieted her 
nerves. A placid look on her face was so much 
hope for the patient watcher, who plucked up fresh 
courage. 

Mr. Thompson thereupon turned his footsteps 
homeward to prove the nature of the blood stains 
on the blade of knife number two. He sat for 
full two hours in his comfortable rocking chair 
and reasoned with his own thoughts. “ Why 
were the knives changed? I can see no cause 
for such a proceeding. The real knife would have 
been better evidence than the one in the sheriff’s 
office. Why was the blood of a fish substituted 
for human blood?” The more he thought the 
more baffling the puzzle became. 

The mistress of the house walked into his 
room without knocking. A shade of anxiety was 
traceable on her face as she whimpered : “ Did 

you make another visit to my friend, and if so, 
how is he doing? ” 

“ I made no other professional visit in that 
part of the city and do not expect to go again, 
even if you should offer me one hundred dollars. 
The man is in no danger. He will be out during 
the day, so do not borrow more trouble than you 
can pay back. Bad plan ! bad plan ! ” 

“ Would you go if I asked you to go, for sweet 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 345 

charity sake ? While she made this remark she 
gazed intently at the face of the wonld-be doctor. 
The calm, grey eyes looked steadfastly back at 
her, look for look, stare for stare. 

“Did you know that he escaped?’’ She 
asked this with bated breath. 

“ Then he must have been out of his head. 
He was too sick a man to go so soon. The time 
for the fever to wear itself out was eleven o’clock. 
Did you see the nurse ; perhaps she has moved 
him to a neighbor’s house.” 

“ I did not see anyone. The rooms were va- 
cant. He has made his escape.” 

“ Why, Madam, do you use the word escape ? 
Is he a criminal from justice? And you would 
get me into trouble by making such a visit? F?e 
on you. I judge that you are not very charitably 
inclined. Am I right in this character sketch ? ” 

“ I do not remember of giving any one a cent 
in my life. The struggle with the world has been 
so constant that it left me little room for charity. 

I am a soulless woman and try to reap where I 
have not sown.” 

“ What is the nature of the crop you harvest ? 
It must be an evil one. I cannot imagine a hu- 
man being without some human charity; it is hor- 
rible to think about. Perhaps the trials and trib- 
ulations of a boarding-house keeper have ruined 
a naturally fine disposition.” 


346 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

Disposition, fiddlesticks ! Here is a young 
man to be tried for murder, Saturday. What does 
the world care whether he is hanged or not? A 
few days of excitement, columns of the morning 
editions of the papers and presto! some start- 
ling event crowds this trial to the wall, and people 
forget that such a person as Harry Monteet was 
ever born.” 

“ Give me the details of the murder. You 
know that insanity is my pet theme. One per- 
son never murders another who is not insane 
himself. It may be jealousy; it may be robbery. 
Be good and tell me all about this case you speak 
of.” 

When she came to the latter end of the de- 
tails and spoke of the tableau, he watched her 
with a fascination that almost hypnotized the lis- 
tener. His grey eyes flashed with animation as 
he said : They will hang this young man on 

such evidence? It is weak as water.” 

Her glances fell before the honest look of 
her star boarder as he continued : Who was 

the man that was murdered, and where is this 
mad girl? ” 

“I do not know; I had nothing to do with 
the murder. The man that was murdered was 
a foreigner— an Englishman, and wealthy, so I 
have been told. I knew the young man that com- 
mitted the deed. He used to be a good, steady 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 347 

boy in the village where we lived, but he came 
to the city. Fast women and gambling were his 
ruin. So many young men that would make good 
farmers drift to commercial pursuits, only to make 
spendthrifts. It is very sad, is it not?’' 

“ Yes, it is very sad.” He breathed a deep 
sigh as he said these words. The sigh was so 
marked the Madam did not know whether it was 
real or assumed. So far as he was concerned it 
was assumed. “ This hypocrite,” he mentally ex- 
claimed, “ she plays the saint to mask the Devil. 
She has sin enough on her shoulders to send her 
to the bottomless pit for numberless ages.” 
While these reflections were on the detective’s 
mind, the lady in question was staring at him as 
one entranced. He quickly recovered his spir- 
its and asked : “ What had this mad girl to do 

with this terrible deed?” 

“ When they rushed in they found the young 
man standing over his victim with the bloody 
knife in his hand. The girl fainted. When res- 
toratives were applied her reason was gone; but 
you will see a full account of it in the daily pa- 
pers.” 

“ You told me when I first came to board with 
you that this young girl was your niece? You 
knew both of them in the village. It must be a 
case of jealousy. I should so much like to see 


348 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

this patient. I can give no other reason for this 
murderous act, can you?’’ 

While he advanced these opinions, he kept his 
eyes focused on the guilty woman. The con- 
stant strain on her nervous system by this cross- 
questioning showed in her countenance. She 
was going to pieces. For this reason he closed 
the conversation by saying : ‘‘ I shall read the 

papers carefully for the motive.” 

She passed from his room, feeling heavy- 
hearted. Now that the trial was near, her stock 
of overconfidence was being diminished. She 
dreaded the witness-box. The wily lawyers might 
tangle the thread of her evidence and criminate 
her in a way that would be horrible, so she went 
at once to her lawyer for coaching. Mr. Thomp- 
son arranged his fine instrument and went 
through the usual tests for human blood. “ It 
is sure enough blood,” he whispered, ‘‘ and on 
Harry’s own knife.” Then a thought came to 
him. “ I see it all. They will weaken their own 
evidence that they may leave a doubt in the mind 
of the jurors, and thus nolle prosequi the case. 
Harry will be under the bane of the law with no 
power to act.” 


CHAPTER XXIL 


RETRIBUTION. 

He put up his instrument, glanced at his 
watch and remarked : It is time the steamer 

was at the pier. I must be there when she lands. ’’ 
The view from the wharf was cheering to his sailor 
heart as he watched the big, brown-hulled steam- 
er slowly move up to the pier, towed by a tug from 
whose smoke stack issued a long black wake of 
dense smoke. As she came nearer he could see the 
eager faces peering landward, the nervous prepa- 
rations that anticipate a scramble for the bridge, 
the examination of baggage, the eager greetings, 
the babble of tongues. The friend he met walk- 
ed leisurely from the steamer. He looked care- 
lessly around until his eyes rested on the right 
man. They shook hands just as if they had part- 
ed but yesterday and walked to the apartments 
of Harry. 

“How is the case progressing? I received 
your cipher despatches up to a certain date. I 
judged that nothing unusual has happened.** 

“ Nothing worth mentioning,** the detective 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 


350 

replied. “ I have had a hard time over 
here. Upon several occasions the covey of birds 
was about to scatter, but I have them well in hand 
now. They are restless on account of the ap- 
proaching trial. The only thing that puzzles me 
is who the stranger is that was murdered. He 
was an Englishman, and he was wealthy. By 
Jove! I have it. I will take a peep at the leaves 
that were neatly cut from the ledger.” 

His hands trembled as they removed the string 
from the package that he bought from Tim. A 
deathly pallor came over his face. He could not 
speak. He passed the sheet over to his compan- 
ion, who calmly remarked : “ It is a righteous 

judgment; ‘ The mills of the gods grind slowly.’ ” 

When Thompson recovered his composure he 
quietly remarked : “You must return by the next 
steamer; issue the notices as soon as you arrive, 
because times are uncertain. We have no time 
to lose. I will see that they are delivered. I 
will have your meals sent here until your de- 
parture. I have a number of disguises here ; you 
are about my size; any of them will fit you. I 
want you to go with me to the residence of the 
man with the wax face. I have my suspicions 
who he really is. You know the man better than 
I do. He is playing a star engagement, and with 
a woman here has ruined several good men.” 

“ The steamer sails by dark ; will we have 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 35I 

time to make the trip? If I should miss this 
chance for sailing I would be compelled to lose a 
week.’^ 

“ Get ready, we will go at once. The hon- 
orable gentleman that we will visit is a regular 
night owl. He sleeps all day and gambles all 
night. We will find him at home. I will get my 
real estate list and we will play the parts of would- 
be purchasers; that is, if we are caught. I want 
you to see him in his natural state, when he is 
asleep.” 

When they rounded the corner the great, si- 
lent building was to their right. The large, white 
pasteboard sign “ For Sale ” on its gloomy front 
made the detectives’ hearts beat with pleasurable 
anticipation, for as the agency parlance expressed 
it : “ The job was dead easy.” The polite ser- 

vant showed them every room but the one they 
wanted to see. A ten dollar banknote gave them 
this privilege, but with the distinct understand- 
ing that the gentleman must not be disturbed. 
The sleeping-room door was not closed, and a 
portiere was between them and the sleeping man. 
There was no doubt of his being asleep. He was 
lying on his back. His lower jaw had fallen. 
This gave him a corpse-like appearance that was 
startling. They looked at him for two minutes 
from behind the portiere and withdrew. They 


352 THOMPSON. THE DETECTIVE. 

asked of the valet when the sale was to be an- 
nounced. 

“ Poor fool,” they both muttered in a breath; 
“ how the wheels of human justice will roll around. 
The wax on his face was removed. “ I will go 
back to England at once; he is evidently prepar- 
ing to make his escape. As you say there is no 
time to lose.” 

They shook each other’s hand with a lingering 
grip that meant more than words, as they parted 
on the pier. “ Well, Thompson, with a ‘ p,’ no 
matter what may happen, you will be avenged, 
and in a terrible manner. I will run down and 
see how Madge is doing. Then I will hasten the 
departure of Blanche’s father. These two things 
must move forward without a hitch. I do not 
fear Tim. Minnie will keep him in a quiet cor- 
ner, at least until the curtain falls upon the last 
act in this real drama of life.” 

When he reached the asylum there was no 
policeman to interrogate him. The same obse- 
quious little man came to the entrance and con- 
ducted him, not to the cell Madge had once 
occupied, but to a neat little parlor that ad- 
joined a bed room. There was a look of patient 
resignation on the girl’s face that brought cheer 
to his soul. The blank look was no part of her 
unhappy being. He noted this as he advanced 
towards her and extended both hands. 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 353 


Why did you not bring Harry with you ? I 
am well now. Does he love me just as he used 
to in the olden days? I love him, and he must 
love me.” 

There was something childish in the petition 
that informed him that all was not well with this 
young lady, yet the improvement was so marked 
that he sent up a silent prayer of gratitude for her 
restoration to reason. Her question was unan- 
swered. The eagerness . that she manifested 
touched him deeply as he replied: 

“ Harry is more anxious to see you than you 
are to see him, my child. He will be delighted 
to learn that you are so much improved. Keep 
up your courage and all will be well with you.” 
The most difficult part of his errand was not ac- 
complished. Without heeding her sweet, child- 
ish pleading, he continued: “You have been 
very sick and you foolishly imagined that 
you saw a man killed. You must put this out 
of your mind, my child, or you will never get well ; 
you must do this for Harry’s sake.” 

“ Yes, I saw it all. I am not crazy now. 
When Harry crept into the room I was weeping 
bitterly. The world had been so cruel to me and 
the aunt that was only so in name, wished me 
to submit to a ruffian for money.” A shudder 
agitated her so that she could not speak for a mo- 
ment. Mr. Thompson observed this and sooth- 


354 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

ingly said: “ Never mind, child, do not say any 
more until you are better. I know that it is all 
right, and so does Harry. I came to tell you to 
get ready to take a long trip. What do you need 
in the way of dresses and other necessary arti- 
cles? ’’ 

She looked up quickly and smiled through her 
tears. “Who is to pay for all these dresses? I 
have no money.’^ 

“ You will know later. You must look your 
best, for Harry is going to make you his wife. 
You have seen the roughest side of your poor 
life. In future you shall lift your head and hold 
it with the proudest on earth. Be satisfied with 
this promise, that will be fulfilled to the letter.’’ 

The matter of her dresses perplexed him. It 
would be ‘unwise to go shopping and thus place 
danger in her way. This part of the undertaking 
was something new to him. He had never been 
in a dry goods store in his life more than half a 
dozen times. Madge could not go on the steam- 
er looking like an outcast. With a critical eye 
he sized up her weight and height, and resolved 
to take the chances and make purchases for her. 

She did not fully comprehend the kindness of 
this stranger, who had been so loyal and true to 
Harry. 

For this reason, Madge loved Harry with a 
devotion that was nurtured in the cradle of trou- 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 355 

ble and sorrow, a dependent trust that made a 
god of man. She intuitively gave him the credit 
for this fresh evidence of his affection, and her 
love went to sleep, just as a trusting child would 
sleep in its mother’s arms. 

With messages for Harry, Mr. Thompson left 
bright and hap_py. It was no easy undertaking 
to replenish the girl’s wardrobe, to deceive the 
sharp eyes that were ever on the alert. He made 
his purchases and hired a push cart to convey 
them to the asylum, where they were packed away 
in a modest trunk. Thus two weeks swiftly pass- 
ed. Not for a moment did he lose sight of his 
game. He shadowed the Madam^ the lawyer, 
and the man with the wax face. 

Thompson’s assistant had done his work only 
too well. The notices to appear before the Eng- 
lish court had been received by the three. The 
visions of wealth that glittered before their eyes 
elated their spirits to the nervous point. The 
Madam did not try to conceal the gratification she 
felt at the turn of affairs. She even confided to 
the detective the story of the estate that was 
worth thousands of pounds. She related the part 
that Madge played, and told him of her death, 
which had been proven to the satisfaction of the 
court. “ You told me,” the detective said, in a 
listless manner, “ that the mad girl was in the asy- 
lum; did she die recently?” 


356 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

“ It must be two weeks now since her death. 
Poor child ! hers was an unhappy life. She is bet- 
ter off as it is. You know that she was too inti- 
mate with the young men, and it is so easy to go 
down from one step to another when once a girl 
is fast.” 

He paid no attention to these remarks, but 
turned her thoughts to England and the estates 
she would inherit by the death of this girl. 

“ I presume,” he said, “ that you will live in 
England?” 

“ England is too slow for me. I shall make 
Paris my home and appoint an agent to manage 
my interests.” 

“ I wish to congratulate you on this piece of 
good fortune. I may be in Paris some day my- 
self. I should be pleased to call upon you if you 
will give me your address.” 

How well he knew that the man with the wax 
face would share her good fortune if it ever came 
into her possession. It perplexed him when he 
thought of the stupendousness of the crimes that 
had followed one another with such rapidity. The 
surprise and horror at the fate of the murdered 
man whose death was a retribution ; what had this 
brazen-faced woman to do with the murder ? Per- 
haps she tolled him to his death. With these 
thoughts in his mind, he insinuatingly remarked : 

“ Did you know the murdered man. Madam ? 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 357 


Perhaps he was a stranger who came to this coun- 
try to invest his surplus funds.” 

This question startled her. It came from the 
mouth of the detective in such a straightforward 
manner that she looked at him in astonishment 
and asked : “ What made you ask such a ques- 

tion? One would think I was guilty the way I 
act, wouldn’t they? Well, yes; I met him several 
times. He was a man after my own heart. He 
spent money lavishly. He bought the house 
where the murder was committed. What times 
we would have had.” 

“What was this mad girl doing there?” the 
detective asked. “ It must have been a fine house, 
if I may express such an opinion by what you 
have told me. Pardon me for asking so many 
questions. I am a crank on the subject of psychol- 
ogy. I want to find a motive for the deed. If 
I am intruding on the sacred right of minding 
one’s own business, tell me so ; you have just told 
me enough to whet my appetite for more.” 

This frankness on his part reassured her. The 
guilty embarrassment passed away as she replied : 
“ Madge was his mistress; I was glad that it turn- 
ed out so well, for she had already sunk so low 
that this was certainly an improvement on her 
old life.” 

A wave of anger swept through his soul, but 


358 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

he carefully guarded this telltale evidence, and 
asked : “ Who introduced the girl to this man? ” 

“I introduced her; I was the proper person 
to do so, because I am her aunt. I felt that it 
was the chance of her life.” 

“ Why, this is a marvelous happening. For 
this reason, the young man in a fit of jealous rage 
cut the man’s throat. You see I have found out 
what the motive was; it is terrible enough; it is 
always the motive.” One more question : I 

presume this young man, Harry, (I believe this 
is the name you gave me) did you some great 
wrong because you have persecuted him so re- 
morselessly. I suppose you informed him where 
his friend was and thus brought them face to 
face.” 

He never injured me that I know of. Some- 
times we get the devil in us. I hated him as a 
freckled-faced boy, with his soapy locks turned un- 
der and dried, and I hated Madge because she 
loved this murderer. I hope they will hang him, 
then I will feel that my malice is a success.” 

“ Will you be one of the witnesses against 
him?” 

“I think not; at least my lawyer seems to 
think that my evidence will not be required. It 
makes me so nervous even to think of being a 
witness with all of those horrid lawyers asking 
so many questions.” 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 359 

‘‘ It is dreadful/’ he answered. A woman 
knows so little of the law. I hope you will not 
think that I am overstepping the bounds of good 
manners by asking so many questions. Really, I 
have been entranced; would you mind if I made 
jottings of this conversation for a European jour- 
nal?” 

“ Not at all, sir.” She looked in surprise at 
the face of the clock, and exclaimed : “ The 

morning gone and my time gone with it.” She 
arose to go, but the detective detained her for a 
moment, by asking: “What am I to do for a 
boarding house since you sail so soon for Eng- 
land? Will you not recommend me to the favor- 
able consideration of some kind hostess? ” 

“Sure! sure! I will be glad to do so. You 
have never given me any trouble since you have 
been with me. I have already purchased tickets 
for three; we sail in ten days.” 

“ I thought you were going alone ? ” 

“ My lawyer and my confidential man are go- 
ing with me to look sharply after my property. 
It is an immense estate. Those English law- 
yers may not be to my liking. The papers have 
arrived; they came yesterday, and it is all right.” 

When she withdrew from the hall where they 
were seated he deliberately jotted down the con- 
versation that had passed between them ; placed 
it in the outer pocket of his coat and went to his 


room. 


360 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

I will Step down to the shipping list and see 
what steamer is up for that day. Then I will 
purchase tickets for Madge and myself ; not on 
the same ship, however, but one that sails the 
day following. I will send a cipher cablegram 
to my confrere who will be glad to welcome them 
to England. The trial will come up and Elarry 
will be acquitted for want of evidence, and the 
miserable farce will be ended on this side of the 
ocean.” 

The anonymous note that he had written to 
the merchant was hastening his (the merchant’s) 
departure. Every evening the detective made it 
convenient to happen around, where he could keep 
an eye on Blanche and the man with the wax 
face. This Night Owl, backed by all of the cun- 
ning deviltry of the Madam, could not tempt this 
noble girl to go wrong. The evenings that Har- 
ry came were evenings of torture to the poor girl. 
Sometimes she was all affection, then again she 
was frigid in her attentions. She was glad when 
the day arrived for her father’s departure to 
Europe. 

This frivolousness on the part of Blanche 
wounded Harry deeply, the more so since she had 
been particularly attentive to Claud. Harry’s 
jealousy was piqued, and neither of these dear 
friends had the moral courage to understand the 
motives that caused this estrangement, or the ex- 


THOMPSON. THE DETECTIVE. 361 

planations that would have cleared away the mis- 
understanding that existed between them. 

The destination of the merchant was unknown, 
as he proposed making a tour of the globe. Like 
an honorable man he placed his business in the 
hands of a receiver. There was ample funds and 
securities in the bank and in the hands of the trus- 
tees to pay every dollar of his indebtedness. He 
thanked the writer of the anonymous note from 
the bottom of his heart, and sailed to his new 
life where the worry of business and the evil com- 
panions that had almost wrecked his name would 
trouble no more. 

Blanche, in all of her nobility of soul, threw 
her arms around Harry when he walked forth 
from the court a free man, and Claud’s joy was 
as quiet as it was earnest. The little coolness still 
made them shy of each other, and Blanche steam- 
ed away from the port that had been such a 
scene of trouble and sorrow with strange unrest 
in her heart. She pleaded with Harry to go with 
them. The only promise she received was that 
he would see about it, later. Claud received a like 
invitation which he promptly accepted. 

Harry was glad to give up his position as 
bookkeeper. The responsibility was not commen- 
surate with the pay. Later, he accepted the kind 
invitation of his friend Thompson to visit Eng- 
land. He was even then making some purchases 


362 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

for the trip. Claud was to go later. Mr. Thomp- 
son changed his mind about sailing because he 
received a message that all was not ready. 

So far good fortune befriended the detective. 
Blanche, through the machinations of a villain, 
had drifted away from Harry. 

It was no part of the detective’s plan to in- 
clude Harry in the arrangement that made him a 
companion for Madge. She was still weak-mind- 
ed. The excitement of the ocean voyage, the es- 
cape from years of suffering, together with the 
change of scenery, would perhaps create a ner- 
vous tension which would retard her recovery. 
Mr. Thompson delayed his departure and watch- 
ed the would-be inheritors until they crossed the 
gangway of the steamer that was to convey them 
to Liverpool. This duty performed, he sailed 
with his protege on the big liner that followed. 
Madge was dressed as a young widow. The heavy 
veil that concealed her face was a complete dis- 
guise. She never quitted her stateroom during 
the trip across the Atlantic. 

Madge peeped through the ocean window. 
Her thoughts were with Harry, the companion of 
her youth. The long stretches of water that tum- 
bled restlessly about made her dreams all the more 
real. “Who is this strange man?” she queried; 
“ this strange man that Harry employs to guard 
me so faithfully. Why am I going to England? ” 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 363 

As the shore line receded her mind was strength- 
ened. All of the worry and trouble was behind 
her; the future dawned with a world of bright 
promises. 

A landau was in waiting when the detective 
and his charge landed in Liverpool. They were 
driven rapidly to the London railway station and 
whirled away to the great city of fogs and human- 
ity that was henceforth to be their home. The 
massive iron gate was closed by a footman in 
livery. The porters lodge of weathered stone, 
was half hidden by the dense growth of ivy. The 
extensive park beyond with its growth of ancient 
oaks, the massive building, the polite attention of 
the servants, all mystified Madge, because she 
wondered what Harry as a genius of kindness had 
to do with all of this display of wealth. 

“Who are you, Mr. Thompson?” She ask- 
ed this with all the vivacity of sound reason. 

“Who am I?” he repeated, musingly. “I 
can hardly tell myself. I have been so roughly 
handled by the world that I seem to have no es- 
pecial personality. Harry will be here, day af- 
ter to-morrow. You must rest. The seasick- 
ness has made you thinner. I will be absent most 
of the time. This lady will attend to all of your 
wants.” 

He hailed a cab and was driven rapidly to the 


364 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

office of the stranger that had made such a speedy 
trip across the Atlantic. 

“Well met, sir !” the counselor ex- 

claimed. “ Every aijangement has been complet- 
ed for a speedy hearing of the civil trial, also 
for hastening the criminal climax that will be a 
surprise to these miscreants.” 

“ One part of the evidence is wanting,” Mr. 
Thompson replied. “ The real murderer is in 
London. I will disguise myself as a sea faring 
man and run him down.” After a full under- 
standing, the detective hastened to change his 
suit, assumed the rolling gait of a sailor, rolled the 
quid of tobacco from one side of his mouth to the 
other, and frequented the low dives where crime 
held high carnival. His man was hard to bring 
to an anchor. He heard of him in a dozen places. 
One hour he was in Whitechapel, and the next 
hour in Clerkenwell; he found him in a low-ceil- 
inged, smoke-darkened room. He was seated in 
an obscure corner dealing a well-thumbed greasy 
deck of cards to three villainous-looking cut- 
throats. He was, as the sailors say, “ three 
sheets in the wind, and the fourth fluttering.” 
His messmates had robbed him of his last farthing. 
His speech was thick, his face was bloated. The 
bleared eyes stupidly dealt the cards as the cheat- 
ing-game went steadily against him. 

Mr. Thompson knocked off a foaming glass 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 365 

of half-and-half, and quietly quitted this den. He 
made his way without loss of time to the con- 
stabulary, where the Quarter Sessions were grind- 
ing out justice to fallen humanity. He was in- 
formed that the crime of murder was an offence 
that necessitated a trial by the Queen’s Bench. 
He hailed a cab and was whirled to Old Bailey, 
where he secured a bench warrant for the sea- 
man’s arrest. 

The arrest created no excitement. The con- 
stables half lifted and half carried the limp body 
to the prison van. These officers politely touch- 
ed their cap brims and conveyed the accused to 
Old Bailey, where he was locked in a dismal cell. 

The following day was set for the civil trial. 
Both sides of this controversy were promptly on 
the Strand, where the magnificent Temple of 
Justice frowned upon all litigants with its barti- 
zan towers and projecting upper stories. They 
did not disturb the quiet dignity of the court, as 
they passed through the wide arch, on into the 
court room where the four Queen’s Counsel sat 
on the bench, their heads covered by immense 
wigs. There was not a rustle of their silk gowns 
as they eyed the litigants with a complacent stare. 

The three partners in crime looked with in- 
difference upon the barristers as they arranged 
their documents in the order of their calling. A 
slight glance of curiosity rested for a moment on 


366 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

counsel for Mr. Thompson, as the counsel handed 
a piece of paper to one of the Judges on the bench, 
who passed it from one to the other, and returned 
it folded to the gentleman. 

James Finn, Barrister, arose and in a clear, 
low tone recited evidence for plaintiffs. With 
painstaking care this Greenbags narrated the dis- 
appearance of the right honorable lord; by fair 
means or by foul means, he was not prepared to 
state. A sufficient number of years had elapsed 
since his death. He produced the certificate of 
the death of the only heiress, whose name was 
Madge. He stated that she died in an insane 
asylum, a victim of morphine, and with a burst 
of legal acumen presented the claim of Madam 
V as the rightful owner of the estate. 

A pleased expression lighted the face of the 
lady as the eyes of the court gazed curiously at 
the handsomely-dressed person who bowed an 
acknowledgment to her counsel, and the case was 
closed for the plaintiff. 

Mr. Thompson’s counsel arose and said: 

May it please the court, I wish to introduce re- 
buttal evidence that the owner of this estate is 
not dead. I wish further to prove that the girl 
is not dead.” A sergeant of law retired to one 
of the ante-chambers and returned with the de- 
dective who modestly took the witness stand. 


THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 36/ 

This man,” the counsel added, “ is a detective 
hired by me to unravel this mystery.” 

A look of consternation was the only sign 
of recognition that the detective received. He 
drew from his pocket the long leathern memoran- 
dum book and carefully traced each step of the 
Madam in her downward career. The suspense 
was terrible. A flush of anger made her black 
eyes snap with a dangerous fire, and the guilty 
pair shrunk behind the walnut railing. Again 
the sergeant withdrew and returned with Madge. 

James Finn, Barrister, arose and exclaimed: 
“ May it please the court, I demand proof of the 
death of the nobleman.” 

The detective cast his false wig and beard 
from him. “ Do you know me? Do you see this 
scar that I received when I was a boy?” 

The murdered man ! ” the trio shrieked. 

No, not the murdered man! The murdered 
man was my twin brother.” Now, say. Madam, 
that the poor girl you so remorselessly persecut- 
ed is dead.” 

A thrill of horror agitated the audience. Dark 
scowling looks were focused on the guilty persons 
as the constables advanced and placed irons on 
these criminals and hurried them to Old Bailey. 

The trial was fixed for the following day. 
Death cheated the hangman. The brutal sea cap- 
tain had by some means gained admission to the 


368 THOMPSON, THE DETECTIVE. 

room where the trio were imprisoned. The man 
with the wax face and the Madam were stretched 
lifeless upon the stone pavement. The finger- 
marks around their throats were the avenging 
records of a faithless wife and her criminal para- 
mour. The sailor was hanged. The Greenbags 
was transported for life, and a wrong was righted. 

A year has passed swiftly since that trial. 
Madge and Harry are wedded. The sorrowful 
past is forgotten. Blanche and Claud are m.ar- 
ried. Harry is the sturdy English yeoman, whose 
time is occupied with the cares of the estate. 
Claud is the barrister that runs down from Lon- 
don and spends his leisure days in explaining the 
beauties of that speech he never delivered. Tim 
died of consumption. Minnie is housekeeper at 
the manor, where we will leave them to their new- 
ly found happiness. 





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UBRARY OF CONGRESS 



